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Must Love Scandal #2
The Duke Report
A lady should never pursue a gentleman... nor write scathing exposés about him.
Just because Charlotte “Cherry” Lambe understands the rules of decorum doesn't mean she believes in following them. Enjoying the freedom offered by widowhood, she has dedicated herself to promoting the cause of vulnerable servant women in England, determined to set an example in courage for her young daughter. When she receives a tip from an anonymous source, one of the greatest perpetrators in London seems to have fallen right into her hands and she holds nothing back in putting his evil deeds into print.
Breaking News: The duke is a blackguard!
Ewan Orkney, the Duke of Crossley, is indisputably everything a duke should be—handsome, courteous, well-bred, and above-all, a man of honor. At least, Cross holds this reputation until a scandalous column is published decrying him as a cruel employer and the leader of an exploitive ring of powerful men. Humiliated and enraged, he resolves to seek out his opponent and issues a public challenge—inviting the anonymous newspaper writer to his estate to conduct their very own private investigation.
Challenge Accepted
Shocked to discover his adversary's identity, the duke soon finds himself intrigued beyond measure. Mrs. Lambe is the opposite of what the duke has been brought up to believe a lady should be. Unconventional, intelligent, and outspoken, her outlandish qualities put together with an admittedly lovely exterior make for an entrancing combination.
Sinister Plots and Sizzling Seduction
Stirred by the intrepid reporter’s wit and passion, the duke is horrified to realize the scandal of the year may be playing out in his very own heart. Yet it soon becomes clear that someone wishes to silence Mrs. Lambe and her pen for good. As the lady of letters becomes embroiled in a sinister plot, Cross quickly finds himself committed to keeping his erstwhile enemy safe no matter what the cost.
Just because Charlotte “Cherry” Lambe understands the rules of decorum doesn't mean she believes in following them. Enjoying the freedom offered by widowhood, she has dedicated herself to promoting the cause of vulnerable servant women in England, determined to set an example in courage for her young daughter. When she receives a tip from an anonymous source, one of the greatest perpetrators in London seems to have fallen right into her hands and she holds nothing back in putting his evil deeds into print.
Breaking News: The duke is a blackguard!
Ewan Orkney, the Duke of Crossley, is indisputably everything a duke should be—handsome, courteous, well-bred, and above-all, a man of honor. At least, Cross holds this reputation until a scandalous column is published decrying him as a cruel employer and the leader of an exploitive ring of powerful men. Humiliated and enraged, he resolves to seek out his opponent and issues a public challenge—inviting the anonymous newspaper writer to his estate to conduct their very own private investigation.
Challenge Accepted
Shocked to discover his adversary's identity, the duke soon finds himself intrigued beyond measure. Mrs. Lambe is the opposite of what the duke has been brought up to believe a lady should be. Unconventional, intelligent, and outspoken, her outlandish qualities put together with an admittedly lovely exterior make for an entrancing combination.
Sinister Plots and Sizzling Seduction
Stirred by the intrepid reporter’s wit and passion, the duke is horrified to realize the scandal of the year may be playing out in his very own heart. Yet it soon becomes clear that someone wishes to silence Mrs. Lambe and her pen for good. As the lady of letters becomes embroiled in a sinister plot, Cross quickly finds himself committed to keeping his erstwhile enemy safe no matter what the cost.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2022
104 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Fenna Edgewood
21 books182 followersUSA TODAY bestselling author Fenna Edgewood writes steamy, swoon-worthy stories of love, family, and adventure. Fenna lives on the Canadian Prairies with her husband and two tiny tots (who are adorable but generally terrible research assistants). She is an award-winning retired academic who has studied English literature for most of her life. Before becoming a full-time author, her last "real" job was teaching high school students above the Arctic Circle. After a long hiatus from writing make-believe as a twelve-year-old, she has returned to the genre with a bang!
For a FREE book from Fenna, join her NL: https://fennaedgewood.com/newsletter/
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And be sure to follow her on Bookbub for the latest deals! https://www.bookbub.com/authors/fenna...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
April 2, 2022
I received a free review copy from BookSprout and this is my freely given opinion.
From what I understand, the books in this series can be read as stand alone stories; forgive me if I am wrong in that. As such, the first book is in my to-read list, but I have not started it yet. There are characters that appear in story arcs that may be recurring from the first book though, that connect with the story in this one. But while it would have been nice to get a bit of the history, especially about a character in one of the secondary story lines, it did not seem to impede my enjoyment of this story.
On saying that, I loved this story! I think this is the first time I am reading a full story by this author and I am very much so wanting more. There are many themes I love here - second chances at love, interracial relationships, strong women of colour, etc, and these were woven into a story that encapsulates loss, romance, adventure, murder/mystery - I loved it all!
The heroine, Cherry Lambe is a Black/mixed race female journalist, who is a single mom - a widow raising a 4 year old daughter in London. So much going against her because of the prejudices at the time, but she is strong, vocal, and passionate about raising her voice to fight for the injustices of women, especially of the lower orders, who are being subjugated by men at the time.
The hero, Ewan, the Duke of Crossley, seems to be a true gentleman. He is a widower, raising his young daughter, after having lost his beloved wife in childbirth 10 years previously. He loved her dearly and could not seem to imagine another woman in his life, to the point where he has not been with anyone else since her death; devoting his time to his ducal duties, and raising his daughter.
Cherry and Ewan's first meetings were less than romantic, in that they involved some mistaken identity, unwanted kisses, outrage, slapping, and some well spoken derision... but also some unspoken physical attraction. But no introductions so they did not know who the other was.
But they do meet when Ewan is forced to deal with correcting a terribly slanderous article penned by Cherry written in the heat of the moment, after she received some information from a less than reliable source.
I loved the development of the relationship between Cherry and Ewan, including the complications of misunderstandings, race, social status and social prejudice, and the complications of their children and extended families. The Duke's daughter Fiona is wonderful and precocious, seeming quite mature for her age, and I loved his relationship with her as well, as it demonstrates that he is a sensitive man who values intelligence in women, also demonstrated by his treatment of the governess as well. There was prejudice that Cherry faces and stands up against, but she also had to acknowledge and deal with her own social prejudice against men in positions of power and status, such as her presumptions about Ewan.
There was also a back story of a kidnapping and murder that was written about to, that was very intriguing and added a dark and menacing element as well, and seems to be a story arc that encompasses the series.
5 stars - I just plain old enjoyed this and look forward to reading the others in the series.
From what I understand, the books in this series can be read as stand alone stories; forgive me if I am wrong in that. As such, the first book is in my to-read list, but I have not started it yet. There are characters that appear in story arcs that may be recurring from the first book though, that connect with the story in this one. But while it would have been nice to get a bit of the history, especially about a character in one of the secondary story lines, it did not seem to impede my enjoyment of this story.
On saying that, I loved this story! I think this is the first time I am reading a full story by this author and I am very much so wanting more. There are many themes I love here - second chances at love, interracial relationships, strong women of colour, etc, and these were woven into a story that encapsulates loss, romance, adventure, murder/mystery - I loved it all!
The heroine, Cherry Lambe is a Black/mixed race female journalist, who is a single mom - a widow raising a 4 year old daughter in London. So much going against her because of the prejudices at the time, but she is strong, vocal, and passionate about raising her voice to fight for the injustices of women, especially of the lower orders, who are being subjugated by men at the time.
The hero, Ewan, the Duke of Crossley, seems to be a true gentleman. He is a widower, raising his young daughter, after having lost his beloved wife in childbirth 10 years previously. He loved her dearly and could not seem to imagine another woman in his life, to the point where he has not been with anyone else since her death; devoting his time to his ducal duties, and raising his daughter.
Cherry and Ewan's first meetings were less than romantic, in that they involved some mistaken identity, unwanted kisses, outrage, slapping, and some well spoken derision... but also some unspoken physical attraction. But no introductions so they did not know who the other was.
But they do meet when Ewan is forced to deal with correcting a terribly slanderous article penned by Cherry written in the heat of the moment, after she received some information from a less than reliable source.
I loved the development of the relationship between Cherry and Ewan, including the complications of misunderstandings, race, social status and social prejudice, and the complications of their children and extended families. The Duke's daughter Fiona is wonderful and precocious, seeming quite mature for her age, and I loved his relationship with her as well, as it demonstrates that he is a sensitive man who values intelligence in women, also demonstrated by his treatment of the governess as well. There was prejudice that Cherry faces and stands up against, but she also had to acknowledge and deal with her own social prejudice against men in positions of power and status, such as her presumptions about Ewan.
There was also a back story of a kidnapping and murder that was written about to, that was very intriguing and added a dark and menacing element as well, and seems to be a story arc that encompasses the series.
5 stars - I just plain old enjoyed this and look forward to reading the others in the series.
March 8, 2022
ARCH
A lady should never pursue a gentleman... nor write scathing exposés about him. Just because Charlotte “Cherry” Lambe understands the rules of decorum doesn’t mean she believes in following them. Enjoying the freedom offered by widowhood, she has dedicated herself to promoting the cause of vulnerable servant women in England, determined to set an example in courage for her young daughter. When she receives a tip from an anonymous source, one of the greatest perpetrators in London seems to have fallen right into her hands and she holds nothing back in putting his evil deeds into print. Breaking News: The duke is a blackguard! Ewan Orkney, the Duke of Crossley, is indisputably everything a duke should be—handsome, courteous, well-bred, and above-all, a man of honor. At least, Cross holds this reputation until a scandalous column is published decrying him as a cruel employer and the leader of an exploitive ring of powerful men. Humiliated and enraged, he resolves to seek out his opponent and issues a public challenge—inviting the anonymous newspaper writer to his estate to conduct their very own private investigation. Challenge Accepted Shocked to discover his adversary’s identity, the duke soon finds himself intrigued beyond measure. Mrs. Lambe is the opposite of what the duke has been brought up to believe a lady should be. Unconventional, intelligent, and outspoken, her outlandish qualities put together with an admittedly lovely exterior make for an entrancing combination. Sinister Plots and Sizzling Seduction Stirred by the intrepid reporter’s wit and passion, the duke is horrified to realize the scandal of the year may be playing out in his very own heart. Yet it soon becomes clear that someone wishes to silence Mrs. Lambe and her pen for good. As the lady of letters becomes embroiled in a sinister plot, Cross quickly finds himself committed to keeping his erstwhile enemy safe no matter what the cost. Cherry and Ewan are meant to be! This book is not all that entices you. The gist of the story is a kidnapping, a wrongly accused Duke and love ever after. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A lady should never pursue a gentleman... nor write scathing exposés about him. Just because Charlotte “Cherry” Lambe understands the rules of decorum doesn’t mean she believes in following them. Enjoying the freedom offered by widowhood, she has dedicated herself to promoting the cause of vulnerable servant women in England, determined to set an example in courage for her young daughter. When she receives a tip from an anonymous source, one of the greatest perpetrators in London seems to have fallen right into her hands and she holds nothing back in putting his evil deeds into print. Breaking News: The duke is a blackguard! Ewan Orkney, the Duke of Crossley, is indisputably everything a duke should be—handsome, courteous, well-bred, and above-all, a man of honor. At least, Cross holds this reputation until a scandalous column is published decrying him as a cruel employer and the leader of an exploitive ring of powerful men. Humiliated and enraged, he resolves to seek out his opponent and issues a public challenge—inviting the anonymous newspaper writer to his estate to conduct their very own private investigation. Challenge Accepted Shocked to discover his adversary’s identity, the duke soon finds himself intrigued beyond measure. Mrs. Lambe is the opposite of what the duke has been brought up to believe a lady should be. Unconventional, intelligent, and outspoken, her outlandish qualities put together with an admittedly lovely exterior make for an entrancing combination. Sinister Plots and Sizzling Seduction Stirred by the intrepid reporter’s wit and passion, the duke is horrified to realize the scandal of the year may be playing out in his very own heart. Yet it soon becomes clear that someone wishes to silence Mrs. Lambe and her pen for good. As the lady of letters becomes embroiled in a sinister plot, Cross quickly finds himself committed to keeping his erstwhile enemy safe no matter what the cost. Cherry and Ewan are meant to be! This book is not all that entices you. The gist of the story is a kidnapping, a wrongly accused Duke and love ever after. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 1, 2022
This book has a lot going on which made it a bit tricky at the start, but it came together nicely.
I really liked the Cherry and Cross romance. She called him out falsely in her article which caused some conflict between them, but they grew on eachother. I really liked that this book dealt with the topic of race and the challenges for people of color. Cherry and Cross definitely are strong characters that didn't back down when facing difficult circumstances.
The side plot of the murder and kidnapping helped give the story some variety and helped me stay engaged.
I have liked book one and two. I am ready for book three!
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really liked the Cherry and Cross romance. She called him out falsely in her article which caused some conflict between them, but they grew on eachother. I really liked that this book dealt with the topic of race and the challenges for people of color. Cherry and Cross definitely are strong characters that didn't back down when facing difficult circumstances.
The side plot of the murder and kidnapping helped give the story some variety and helped me stay engaged.
I have liked book one and two. I am ready for book three!
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 4, 2022
Surprisingly complex, multi-layered romantic drama
Wow! There's a lot going on in this book! Cherry, a widow with a four-year-old daughter, is also a journalist and working to expose a criminal ring that is kidnapping and abusing women. Following an anonymous tip, she publicly accuses Ewan, the Duke of Crossley and a widower with his own young daughter, of murdering the most recent victim found only days before.
Cross sets out to clear his name by inviting the journalist to his estate where she can get to know him and his staff and see that not only did he have an airtight alibi, but he also isn't the kind of man she thinks he is. Neither, of course, realizes that they are both being manipulated by a sinister force determined to protect the secret Brotherhood. Nor do they yet realize how much they have in common, not the least of which is their growing attraction to each other.
Meanwhile, Edith and David - two characters from the previous book who went missing at the same time - find themselves at the mercy of the evil Brotherhood, with little hope of rescue. This part of the story focuses on Edith and gives her character a chance to grow and mature beyond what anyone could have believed possible before her kidnapping. By the time her story is told, she's become a brave heroine who well deserves the happiness she finds that was always right beside her.
Beyond these two main plotlines, we have a reluctant nephew who is suddenly heir to a dukedom, a Society of women determined to protect and care for young women who have been abused by their employers, and a pivotal bit of blackmail that came from a surprising direction.
And that's not all - Cherry faces discrimination because she is a Black woman, so she doesn't know who she can trust or who is just keeping their prejudices under wraps. I was impressed with how this issue was handled - maybe a bit progressive for the actual historical times, but we read fiction specifically for the fantasy-fulfillment so I, for one, was glad to see it addressed in such a forthright manner.
As this is the second book in a series, the whole storyline with the sinister Brotherhood is continued into the next book, but rest assured that the main characters of this book - all of them - are each given a solid HEA before the author leaves us with a teaser about where the plot is headed to next.
This was an intelligent, captivating story, filled with romance, suspense, and intrigue, along with a couple of adorable young girls who are altogether too sweet for words. I am completely invested in this fictional world, and I eagerly await the next installment that will continue this fascinating journey. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Wow! There's a lot going on in this book! Cherry, a widow with a four-year-old daughter, is also a journalist and working to expose a criminal ring that is kidnapping and abusing women. Following an anonymous tip, she publicly accuses Ewan, the Duke of Crossley and a widower with his own young daughter, of murdering the most recent victim found only days before.
Cross sets out to clear his name by inviting the journalist to his estate where she can get to know him and his staff and see that not only did he have an airtight alibi, but he also isn't the kind of man she thinks he is. Neither, of course, realizes that they are both being manipulated by a sinister force determined to protect the secret Brotherhood. Nor do they yet realize how much they have in common, not the least of which is their growing attraction to each other.
Meanwhile, Edith and David - two characters from the previous book who went missing at the same time - find themselves at the mercy of the evil Brotherhood, with little hope of rescue. This part of the story focuses on Edith and gives her character a chance to grow and mature beyond what anyone could have believed possible before her kidnapping. By the time her story is told, she's become a brave heroine who well deserves the happiness she finds that was always right beside her.
Beyond these two main plotlines, we have a reluctant nephew who is suddenly heir to a dukedom, a Society of women determined to protect and care for young women who have been abused by their employers, and a pivotal bit of blackmail that came from a surprising direction.
And that's not all - Cherry faces discrimination because she is a Black woman, so she doesn't know who she can trust or who is just keeping their prejudices under wraps. I was impressed with how this issue was handled - maybe a bit progressive for the actual historical times, but we read fiction specifically for the fantasy-fulfillment so I, for one, was glad to see it addressed in such a forthright manner.
As this is the second book in a series, the whole storyline with the sinister Brotherhood is continued into the next book, but rest assured that the main characters of this book - all of them - are each given a solid HEA before the author leaves us with a teaser about where the plot is headed to next.
This was an intelligent, captivating story, filled with romance, suspense, and intrigue, along with a couple of adorable young girls who are altogether too sweet for words. I am completely invested in this fictional world, and I eagerly await the next installment that will continue this fascinating journey. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
March 22, 2022
Charlotte Lambe is an esteemed journalist and a woman who fights for the most vulnerable. When an anonymous source provides information on a murder she’s investigating, she doesn’t hesitate to expose the evil duke responsible for the fact… Pity that he’s not evil at all, but honorable, kind and handsome to boot!
Ewan, the Duke of Crossley, is outraged to find his name on the Times linked to an evil league of rapists and murderers and he’s determined to punish the journalist who slandered his name. But when he invites her at his estate to demand an apology, he’s intrigued to discover that the woman behind it all is charming, brave and extremely desirable…
The more I read Fenna Edgewood’s books, the more I love her writing! Her plots are never predictable, her steamy scenes are always very emotional and her characters are lovable, interesting and three-dimensional, and not only the main ones. I really enjoyed Edith’s story and I liked that the intriguing mystery linked to it and that spans the series in its entirety is not completely solved yet. I appreciate a little bit of cliffhanger as long as the main story is concluded with an HEA. And what an HEA! Cross and Cherry are a perfect couple with very different characters, but with a great chemistry since the beginning and I loved seeing them defying society’s prejudices and expectations. And now I can’t wait for the next book that it’s going to take us readers a step closer to the solution of this intriguing puzzle…
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ewan, the Duke of Crossley, is outraged to find his name on the Times linked to an evil league of rapists and murderers and he’s determined to punish the journalist who slandered his name. But when he invites her at his estate to demand an apology, he’s intrigued to discover that the woman behind it all is charming, brave and extremely desirable…
The more I read Fenna Edgewood’s books, the more I love her writing! Her plots are never predictable, her steamy scenes are always very emotional and her characters are lovable, interesting and three-dimensional, and not only the main ones. I really enjoyed Edith’s story and I liked that the intriguing mystery linked to it and that spans the series in its entirety is not completely solved yet. I appreciate a little bit of cliffhanger as long as the main story is concluded with an HEA. And what an HEA! Cross and Cherry are a perfect couple with very different characters, but with a great chemistry since the beginning and I loved seeing them defying society’s prejudices and expectations. And now I can’t wait for the next book that it’s going to take us readers a step closer to the solution of this intriguing puzzle…
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 25, 2022
Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC!
Ahhh another good one from Fenna Edgewood! This is the second book of hers that I’ve read and also the second in her Must Love Scandal series. An enemies to lovers book with a great amount of spice 🔥. I’m not sure of the historical accuracy (race issues, LGBTQ acceptance) but if you’re looking for an easy historical romance with some spice and humor, this is the book for you! (Major Bridgerton Vibes)
Cherry is a single (widowed) Black mother who works as both an anonymous reporter and a volunteer at a support home for women. Cross (a Duke) is a single/widowed White father who has been celibate since his wife died in childbirth 10 years ago. Cherry receives an anonymous tip about some of Cross’ wrongdoings and Cross invites Cherry to his estate to clear his name.
I am absolutely in love with Cherry. Her courage, humor, and the fact that she doesn’t let the fact that Cross is a Duke deter her from verbally“sparring” with him were my favorite parts of this book. Cross started out rough. He was creepy and far too assuming and seemed to be ignorant of the implications of his actions on Cherry. Thankfully he later acknowledges that his urges didn’t matter compared to how he made her feel. As the book went on, he grew on me and I was happy for them by the end. The spicy 🌶 scenes may have helped as well 👀. His daughter, Fiona, was my very favorite character. I loved the continuation of the kidnapping from the 1st book and seeing characters from that book as well.
[ ]Representation
- main character is a Black woman (the book discusses many issues related to this - using food items to describe a woman’s skin, healthcare and how nice it is to have a POC doctor, having to educate everyone on what is acceptable and not)
- LGBTQ
[ ] Tropes
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Power dynamic (Duke + a Black woman in the 1800s)
- Single mom/single dad
- Widow/widower
- Parent trap plan from kids
[ ] CW
- Kidnapping
- implication of rape.
- murder
- violence
- sexual assault
- Racism, white supremacy
- Talked about the mistreatment of/disregard for POC in the medical field
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ahhh another good one from Fenna Edgewood! This is the second book of hers that I’ve read and also the second in her Must Love Scandal series. An enemies to lovers book with a great amount of spice 🔥. I’m not sure of the historical accuracy (race issues, LGBTQ acceptance) but if you’re looking for an easy historical romance with some spice and humor, this is the book for you! (Major Bridgerton Vibes)
Cherry is a single (widowed) Black mother who works as both an anonymous reporter and a volunteer at a support home for women. Cross (a Duke) is a single/widowed White father who has been celibate since his wife died in childbirth 10 years ago. Cherry receives an anonymous tip about some of Cross’ wrongdoings and Cross invites Cherry to his estate to clear his name.
I am absolutely in love with Cherry. Her courage, humor, and the fact that she doesn’t let the fact that Cross is a Duke deter her from verbally“sparring” with him were my favorite parts of this book. Cross started out rough. He was creepy and far too assuming and seemed to be ignorant of the implications of his actions on Cherry. Thankfully he later acknowledges that his urges didn’t matter compared to how he made her feel. As the book went on, he grew on me and I was happy for them by the end. The spicy 🌶 scenes may have helped as well 👀. His daughter, Fiona, was my very favorite character. I loved the continuation of the kidnapping from the 1st book and seeing characters from that book as well.
[ ]Representation
- main character is a Black woman (the book discusses many issues related to this - using food items to describe a woman’s skin, healthcare and how nice it is to have a POC doctor, having to educate everyone on what is acceptable and not)
- LGBTQ
[ ] Tropes
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Power dynamic (Duke + a Black woman in the 1800s)
- Single mom/single dad
- Widow/widower
- Parent trap plan from kids
[ ] CW
- Kidnapping
- implication of rape.
- murder
- violence
- sexual assault
- Racism, white supremacy
- Talked about the mistreatment of/disregard for POC in the medical field
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 4, 2022
I liked the book. Not did the romance of the two main characters kept the book entertaining, but it was the crime/ thrilling part of it as well. I provided the right excitement for the story to keep it moving. I liked the many different characters that are added to the story. They certainly brought some witty and chart moments.
February 23, 2024
There are so many layers to this story. The characters are as great and heroic and as villainous as they should be. There is romance, relationships, racial and social issues, mystery and action and more. .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 28, 2022
Cherry Lambe is a widow who raises her daughter alone, she is also a Black woman living in the 1800s in England. She works as an investigative journalist and one of her main focuses is exposing the Brotherhood, an underground affiliation of powerful men, who prey upon women. They kidnap, rape and murder those who fall into their clutches. She is close to the fire and when her source's dead body is found, she feels even more helpless than before. Right after the discovery of the body, she receives an anonymous letter in which the writer claims to be a witness of the murder. This anonymous source tells the perpetrator's name.. the Duke of Crossley. Cherry immediately writes a column in the Times about the Duke's acts and nefarious nature.
Cross is a widower Duke who raises his daughter alone. He loved his wife so much, he vowed he will never remarry and has been celibate since his wife's death. He usually keeps to himself and stays on his country estate but he decides to attend a party in London. He was in his cups when a beautiful Lady approached him and initiated a tryst in one of the rooms. He thought he could say no, but after closing the door behind his back, he knew it was futile to deny the attraction he felt. So he kissed her neck..but instead of Lady Ashe, he found someone else's neck. What are the chances that he will meet this gorgeous, mysterious woman again who won't stay out of his mind? None..and it causes great surprise when he stumbles into her on a corner...and kisses her again. He doesn't even know her name yet he kissed her twice already.
Cherry can't believe this unknown lunatic assaulted her again...and she can't believe it either that she liked his kiss..and that she can't think of anything else for a long time. An invitation from the Duke of Crossley comes in handy. The plan is for her to spend a couple of days at Crossley to make sure the Duke is innocent and apologise for the article. She could do worse..he could have sent her to Newgate for the defamatory exposé she wrote about him, claiming he killed someone.
Both parties are surprised when Cherry arrives on the estate with her daughter.
Cherry is spending more and more time with the Duke and his daughter, who is a huge fan of Cherry and who openly admits she wants a mother like her and a sister like Cherry's daughter.
Charlotte and Cross can't deny their attraction but they don't know if a future together can be a realistic dream.
This story has angst and while I generally liked both characters, they both got on my nerves at times. Cherry infuriated me when she wrote that article without checking the facts and making sure she was not slandering an innocent man's name and also when she used him as a punching bag when she felt frustrated and helpless. Apart from this, I loved her sense of justice. She has a big heart and means well, she actually wants to help those in need but she makes a grave mistake.
Cross disappointed me when he let others insult Cherry even though she was her guest and he claimed he doesn't share their views. She's a strong character but he should have said something and not just sit back and idly watch how she's treated by others. I will be honest, he lost part of his masculinity in my eyes and he had to work hard to redeem himself. He did btw and I was glad when he finally stood up to the bigots. I don't usually care for children in books but Cross' daughter, Fiona, was a delightful character. She seemed much older than her 10 years and wiser and I enjoyed her little parent traps. I could see Fiona and Philippa (Cherry's daughter) playing together. This was one of my favourite things in this book..both kids longed for a bigger family and they accepted each other and the adults immediately. It was heart-warming to see the two families become one. The other favourite part was Cross' attraction. He was completely taken with her and I love when this happens in my books.
Cross and Cherry's chemistry was good but for the I-love-this-person epiphany, they didn't spend enough time together, in my opinion.
This is an interesting book with POC and LGBTQI representation, murder, kidnapping, and racism.
Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Widow/Widower
Single Mom/Single Dad
Forced Proximity
Mistaken Identity
Unequal Pairing
Forced Proximity
Mistaken Identity
Unequal Pairing
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cross is a widower Duke who raises his daughter alone. He loved his wife so much, he vowed he will never remarry and has been celibate since his wife's death. He usually keeps to himself and stays on his country estate but he decides to attend a party in London. He was in his cups when a beautiful Lady approached him and initiated a tryst in one of the rooms. He thought he could say no, but after closing the door behind his back, he knew it was futile to deny the attraction he felt. So he kissed her neck..but instead of Lady Ashe, he found someone else's neck. What are the chances that he will meet this gorgeous, mysterious woman again who won't stay out of his mind? None..and it causes great surprise when he stumbles into her on a corner...and kisses her again. He doesn't even know her name yet he kissed her twice already.
Cherry can't believe this unknown lunatic assaulted her again...and she can't believe it either that she liked his kiss..and that she can't think of anything else for a long time. An invitation from the Duke of Crossley comes in handy. The plan is for her to spend a couple of days at Crossley to make sure the Duke is innocent and apologise for the article. She could do worse..he could have sent her to Newgate for the defamatory exposé she wrote about him, claiming he killed someone.
Both parties are surprised when Cherry arrives on the estate with her daughter.
Cherry is spending more and more time with the Duke and his daughter, who is a huge fan of Cherry and who openly admits she wants a mother like her and a sister like Cherry's daughter.
Charlotte and Cross can't deny their attraction but they don't know if a future together can be a realistic dream.
This story has angst and while I generally liked both characters, they both got on my nerves at times. Cherry infuriated me when she wrote that article without checking the facts and making sure she was not slandering an innocent man's name and also when she used him as a punching bag when she felt frustrated and helpless. Apart from this, I loved her sense of justice. She has a big heart and means well, she actually wants to help those in need but she makes a grave mistake.
Cross disappointed me when he let others insult Cherry even though she was her guest and he claimed he doesn't share their views. She's a strong character but he should have said something and not just sit back and idly watch how she's treated by others. I will be honest, he lost part of his masculinity in my eyes and he had to work hard to redeem himself. He did btw and I was glad when he finally stood up to the bigots. I don't usually care for children in books but Cross' daughter, Fiona, was a delightful character. She seemed much older than her 10 years and wiser and I enjoyed her little parent traps. I could see Fiona and Philippa (Cherry's daughter) playing together. This was one of my favourite things in this book..both kids longed for a bigger family and they accepted each other and the adults immediately. It was heart-warming to see the two families become one. The other favourite part was Cross' attraction. He was completely taken with her and I love when this happens in my books.
Cross and Cherry's chemistry was good but for the I-love-this-person epiphany, they didn't spend enough time together, in my opinion.
This is an interesting book with POC and LGBTQI representation, murder, kidnapping, and racism.
Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Widow/Widower
Single Mom/Single Dad
Forced Proximity
Mistaken Identity
Unequal Pairing
Forced Proximity
Mistaken Identity
Unequal Pairing
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 23, 2022
Cherry Lamb is a widow who is fighting the good fight for those who don’t have a voice of their own. With her personal experience of being a woman of colour, she uses the power of her quill to right the wrongs she sees. The Duke of Crossley is a widower who treats all people fairly regardless of their station in life. Cherry wrongfully accuses Cross of unspeakable acts and in response, he invites her to his country estate to judge him based on fact – and not an anonymous tip.
Cross and Cherry’s romance is sweet and multifaceted. They not only have to deal with their fear of loss (having both lost their spouses), but also the cruelty of society due to their different social classes and ethnicity. From the start sparks fly between the hero and heroine and they practically singe the page. Both main characters have children and it was joy to what their daughters play a prominent role in the story at various points – which also added humour to the story. These are two strong characters and yet they show their vulnerabilities in different ways. I truly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the rest in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cross and Cherry’s romance is sweet and multifaceted. They not only have to deal with their fear of loss (having both lost their spouses), but also the cruelty of society due to their different social classes and ethnicity. From the start sparks fly between the hero and heroine and they practically singe the page. Both main characters have children and it was joy to what their daughters play a prominent role in the story at various points – which also added humour to the story. These are two strong characters and yet they show their vulnerabilities in different ways. I truly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the rest in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 25, 2022
Chemistry & Intrigue-Couldn’t Stop Reading
Cherry Lambe is a woman to admire. Full of fire, gumption to change status quo for women and children experiencing dire situations. With her quill and words, she’s slowly convincing London society to change their ways and bringing awareness to the plight of women in servitude.
When a woman as capable as this widowed single mother is accosted not once but twice in as many days, she’s full of indignation and dare say, lust?
The Duke of Crossley or “Cross” as he’s known to most is appalled by his behaviour. Widowed and celibate for a decade and a single father for just as long, he can’t believe he allowed his basest parts to override propriety but when it comes to this gorgeous woman he can’t seem to remember common sense much less good ones.
Throw in murderous accusations, slander and forced proximity and the flame between these two roars to life. No one deserves to be loved as much as these two. Their story is full of feels with just the right amount of spice. One-click today!
Cherry Lambe is a woman to admire. Full of fire, gumption to change status quo for women and children experiencing dire situations. With her quill and words, she’s slowly convincing London society to change their ways and bringing awareness to the plight of women in servitude.
When a woman as capable as this widowed single mother is accosted not once but twice in as many days, she’s full of indignation and dare say, lust?
The Duke of Crossley or “Cross” as he’s known to most is appalled by his behaviour. Widowed and celibate for a decade and a single father for just as long, he can’t believe he allowed his basest parts to override propriety but when it comes to this gorgeous woman he can’t seem to remember common sense much less good ones.
Throw in murderous accusations, slander and forced proximity and the flame between these two roars to life. No one deserves to be loved as much as these two. Their story is full of feels with just the right amount of spice. One-click today!
April 16, 2022
Another Fenna success!! I absolutely love this series. Suspense, twists in the plot, lots of love… what more can you ask for?
Love the charming characters, how they are present in all the books, their lives intertwined.
Just as with the first book, the end leaves you searching for the next book.
Very well written, an absolute must read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Love the charming characters, how they are present in all the books, their lives intertwined.
Just as with the first book, the end leaves you searching for the next book.
Very well written, an absolute must read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 8, 2022
This is much more than a second chance at love. It’s a kidnapping, a murder, and several evil characters. Cherry is a journalist, who writes a negligent article accusing a respected innocent Duke of a recent murder. He summons her to his country estate to question her and insist she retract her story. Neither this widow or widower expected to fall in love with one another in this encounter. The real murderer is still on the loose, and the kidnapped victims still missing . Not all is resolved in this book, so we must wait for the next one for the conclusion
February 26, 2022
The Accused🐺🍆⛲
ADULT Historical Recency Enemies to Lovers Romance💕 and Murder💀 Mystery with A Kidnapping.
Novel about a Duke🐺🍆⛲ who is flagrantly and haphazardly accused of a brutal murder💀 he did not commit, by an uninformed newspaper📰 columnist looking for headlines!
I found the beginning of the book interesting and promising. The book began to ramble on, becoming tedious, boring, and way too long for the story line. There were also an over abundance of characters in the beginning which made for some confusion.
I'm disappointed that I spent so much time on this novel, when there are so many other, better written and more interesting novels📚 about this time period to read.
ARC Provided by Book 📚 Sirens💃
I also got this ebook from Amazon 📚with KU
ADULT Historical Recency Enemies to Lovers Romance💕 and Murder💀 Mystery with A Kidnapping.
Novel about a Duke🐺🍆⛲ who is flagrantly and haphazardly accused of a brutal murder💀 he did not commit, by an uninformed newspaper📰 columnist looking for headlines!
I found the beginning of the book interesting and promising. The book began to ramble on, becoming tedious, boring, and way too long for the story line. There were also an over abundance of characters in the beginning which made for some confusion.
I'm disappointed that I spent so much time on this novel, when there are so many other, better written and more interesting novels📚 about this time period to read.
ARC Provided by Book 📚 Sirens💃
I also got this ebook from Amazon 📚with KU
February 28, 2022
Loved the story of a black woman and a Duke. Both were widowed and both had children. She wrote stories for the papers. He was basically a stay at home dad just taking Care Of his daughter and his estate. When she accused him of murder without checking her sources he invited her to his estate it check him out. Someone is spying on her and lures her back to London to dispose of her will the Duke just let her go or will he help save her?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 16, 2022
A female journalist (Cherry), POC, widowed mother of a little girl who decides love and marriage are not for her meets a widowed Duke (Cross) who's wife died several years earlier in the childbirth of his daughter, also is not interested in a mate. Their first meeting doesn't go well when he mistakes her for another more amorous important lady. She immediately goes off on making him out to be a lecherous man of means even though he tries to explain he mistook her for a woman he was meeting. This would not be the only time she wrongly accused Cross. Their first meeting bothered me as I was expecting a hard hitting journalist that probably did not exist in her time. Fact checking before ruining a person's life was not a thought. Yet I decided to forgo my opinion at the beginning and read to the end which through it all brought two lonely souls together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 22, 2022
I am afraid I ended with more critiques than praise for this novel and I don’t mean it as a slam to Ms. Edgewood at all but she is much better than this. I adored her Gardner Girls series and I really enjoyed the first book of this series. I thought they were all well written, thought out, and the storylines very good but this one here fell way off the tracks for me.
This is actually two stories blended into one, using the characters we left in the first book. I actually really enjoyed reading the part of the story which is Edith's tale. The author writes the suspense and crime/drama very well. But when it came to Cherry and Cross, it just did not work for me sorry to say, and I didn’t feel as if their story progressed the original problem/story arc created in the first book all that much.
Critiques-
*Choppy, with scenes that don't match up and inconsistencies. For example, she was sitting in a chair then suddenly getting out of bed. Hopefully, these might have been caught in editing the book as I was reading an advanced copy. But even so, the flow of the book is very cut up.
*Also, the style of writing was very elementary, not at all what I expect from a published author. For example-
"He was still mostly clothed, however. A white linen shirt, trousers, footwear.
He was decent.
He came to a decision.
He moved towards the door."
It is written like this in the book, in short sentences. And this may have been the intent of the author to write it as such to grab attention but then it goes into the female part the same way and it just doesn’t look right. Again, perhaps I am being too picky and it is just my university professor persona creeping out, as it does.
*Personally, I really did not like Cherry as a character. Even when she realizes what she's done 60% into the book, her character had already gotten on my last nerve. I did not find her to be the sort of character that I would want to read about in any novel mainly due to her snarkiness and attitude. Some may call it fire, I don’t see it as that. I feel you can portray strong females without having to make them bitchy or that they have a chip on their shoulder. And Ms. Edgewood has written strong females before, but it just did not work here.
*Lots of filler and repetition.
*Lots of scenes that had me asking questions that were never answered - like if she writes under a pen name then how did Dr. Blake know her real name without ever having met her?
I finished this book hoping it would get better as I do like Fenna Edgewood novels and it did have an exciting ending, but overall it fell way short for me in expectations. I do like that there were epilogues (yes, 3 of them!) but I do wonder about how the story will continue in the next book as Cherry’s epilogue jumps a “year or so” into the future yet we still have unresolved drama with the other characters in their present time.
I encourage readers to have a read for themselves. It is a book that is necessary to read if you are reading the entire series. It is not a standalone and leads into the next book of the series.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review.
This is actually two stories blended into one, using the characters we left in the first book. I actually really enjoyed reading the part of the story which is Edith's tale. The author writes the suspense and crime/drama very well. But when it came to Cherry and Cross, it just did not work for me sorry to say, and I didn’t feel as if their story progressed the original problem/story arc created in the first book all that much.
Critiques-
*Choppy, with scenes that don't match up and inconsistencies. For example, she was sitting in a chair then suddenly getting out of bed. Hopefully, these might have been caught in editing the book as I was reading an advanced copy. But even so, the flow of the book is very cut up.
*Also, the style of writing was very elementary, not at all what I expect from a published author. For example-
"He was still mostly clothed, however. A white linen shirt, trousers, footwear.
He was decent.
He came to a decision.
He moved towards the door."
It is written like this in the book, in short sentences. And this may have been the intent of the author to write it as such to grab attention but then it goes into the female part the same way and it just doesn’t look right. Again, perhaps I am being too picky and it is just my university professor persona creeping out, as it does.
*Personally, I really did not like Cherry as a character. Even when she realizes what she's done 60% into the book, her character had already gotten on my last nerve. I did not find her to be the sort of character that I would want to read about in any novel mainly due to her snarkiness and attitude. Some may call it fire, I don’t see it as that. I feel you can portray strong females without having to make them bitchy or that they have a chip on their shoulder. And Ms. Edgewood has written strong females before, but it just did not work here.
*Lots of filler and repetition.
*Lots of scenes that had me asking questions that were never answered - like if she writes under a pen name then how did Dr. Blake know her real name without ever having met her?
I finished this book hoping it would get better as I do like Fenna Edgewood novels and it did have an exciting ending, but overall it fell way short for me in expectations. I do like that there were epilogues (yes, 3 of them!) but I do wonder about how the story will continue in the next book as Cherry’s epilogue jumps a “year or so” into the future yet we still have unresolved drama with the other characters in their present time.
I encourage readers to have a read for themselves. It is a book that is necessary to read if you are reading the entire series. It is not a standalone and leads into the next book of the series.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review.
February 23, 2022
This was a very insightful look at what black women have to deal with, their likes and dislikes. It was refreshing to see the hero and family who are white, stand up to the society bigots. This is book #2 and answers some questions from the first book, but leaves you with more questions and still has not answered the main one. I loved how the hero protects his servants as well! I can hardly wait for the third book !
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 22, 2022
The Gardner Girls spin off series continues with Cherry’s story. As always, it is a well written story including love, misunderstandings and being locked in by a 10 year old. The villains story continues to evolve. By the end we get a resolution to the story of one of the two minor characters from How To Get Away With Marriage. I love Fenna Edgewood’s work. Her stories are time well spent.
July 24, 2022
Cherry and Cross are both widowed with a child and dedicated to being abstinent, but fate has other plans. One moment of sheer impulsiveness and Cherry finds herself in the presence of the one man she vowed to never see again. This is more than a typical romance story, there is mystery and suspense.. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 24, 2022
📰 The Duke Report 📰
An Enemies to Lovers Single Mom/Single Dad Romance
Must Love Scandal #2
✒️ Fenna Edgewood
https://www.facebook.com/fennaedgewoo...
Release Date 02/25/2022
Publisher Starwater Press
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KWVLPJH/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
From the author of The Gardner Girls, comes a delectable new spin-off series that fans of Grace Burrowes, Bree Wolf, K.J. Jackson, and Bridgerton are sure to fall in love with!
Featuring favorite romance tropes…
Enemies to Lovers
Single Mom
Single Duke Dad
A lady should never pursue a gentleman... nor write scathing exposés about him.
Just because Charlotte “Cherry” Lambe understands the rules of decorum doesn't mean she believes in following them. Enjoying the freedom offered by widowhood, she has dedicated herself to promoting the cause of vulnerable servant women in England, determined to set an example in courage for her young daughter. When she receives a tip from an anonymous source, one of the greatest perpetrators in London seems to have fallen right into her hands and she holds nothing back in putting his evil deeds into print.
Breaking News: The duke is a blackguard!
Ewan Orkney, the Duke of Crossley, is indisputably everything a duke should be—handsome, courteous, well-bred, and above-all, a man of honor. At least, Cross holds this reputation until a scandalous column is published decrying him as a murderer and the leader of an exploitive ring of powerful men. Humiliated and enraged, he issues a public challenge inviting the anonymous newspaper writer to his estate to conduct their very own private investigation.
Sinister Plots and Sizzling Seduction
Shocked to discover his adversary is an entrancing woman, the duke finds himself intrigued beyond measure and is soon horrified to realize the scandal of the year may be playing out in his very own heart.
Yet it soon becomes clear that someone wishes to silence Mrs. Lambe and her pen for good. As the lady of letters becomes embroiled in a sinister plot, Cross quickly finds himself committed to keeping his erstwhile enemy safe no matter what the cost…
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will their oath to never live again hold when they meet the right person whatever their differences are …
Since Cherry appeared in her brother’s story, I wondered if she would have her own as her life took a sad turn by the end of Hugh and Rosalind’s romance. I thought her a strong resilient and fair woman.
Why I confess I was furious at Cherry for not verifying her source of informations, whom can call oneself a slayer of the abusers without checking the hints she receives are true and not hearsay or false rumors. It is right to want to expose the villains but without a doubt of their guilt, else they will too become victims and discredit the bearer of the quill.
Then it was Cross a kind and caring fellow who upset me by simply staying silent and witnessing a tongue lashing on Cherry, it was cowardly from him and difficult to forgive whatever his history with her.
And after that there are those who abuse of the weak and the weak who bend…
This was definitely a tale to rise my pulse, luckily for me I have no heart problem at the time, else …
So to sum up, this is quite in part an angsty story, of a woman who feels helpless in the face of powerful men who gain from the system and the plight of the poor and forgotten, of a man who discovers some of his peers use their wealth and authority to abuse without fear of retribution. But the atmosphere moved in the second part, as they get to know one another and the plot unravels. Yet it was Cherry who was the most suspicious, even transferring her picture of the abusive men she wants to expose on Cross when he did nothing to justify her wrath. He is not flawless of course, but it does not make him a villain for not fully understanding the plights of those with a different skin color.
4.5 stars
𝔖𝔭𝔬𝔦𝔩𝔢𝔯 𝔭𝔞𝔯𝔱 :
.
.
.
They have come to know a Duke is involved in the Brotherhood why none of them thought to investigate the dukes, it is not like there were more than a few dozens of them (well outside in historical romances).
.
.
.
𝔈𝔫𝔡 𝔬𝔣 𝔰𝔭𝔬𝔦𝔩𝔢𝔯
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes
I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CaWxgu0A...
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #bookquote #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
An Enemies to Lovers Single Mom/Single Dad Romance
Must Love Scandal #2
✒️ Fenna Edgewood
https://www.facebook.com/fennaedgewoo...
Release Date 02/25/2022
Publisher Starwater Press
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KWVLPJH/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
From the author of The Gardner Girls, comes a delectable new spin-off series that fans of Grace Burrowes, Bree Wolf, K.J. Jackson, and Bridgerton are sure to fall in love with!
Featuring favorite romance tropes…
Enemies to Lovers
Single Mom
Single Duke Dad
A lady should never pursue a gentleman... nor write scathing exposés about him.
Just because Charlotte “Cherry” Lambe understands the rules of decorum doesn't mean she believes in following them. Enjoying the freedom offered by widowhood, she has dedicated herself to promoting the cause of vulnerable servant women in England, determined to set an example in courage for her young daughter. When she receives a tip from an anonymous source, one of the greatest perpetrators in London seems to have fallen right into her hands and she holds nothing back in putting his evil deeds into print.
Breaking News: The duke is a blackguard!
Ewan Orkney, the Duke of Crossley, is indisputably everything a duke should be—handsome, courteous, well-bred, and above-all, a man of honor. At least, Cross holds this reputation until a scandalous column is published decrying him as a murderer and the leader of an exploitive ring of powerful men. Humiliated and enraged, he issues a public challenge inviting the anonymous newspaper writer to his estate to conduct their very own private investigation.
Sinister Plots and Sizzling Seduction
Shocked to discover his adversary is an entrancing woman, the duke finds himself intrigued beyond measure and is soon horrified to realize the scandal of the year may be playing out in his very own heart.
Yet it soon becomes clear that someone wishes to silence Mrs. Lambe and her pen for good. As the lady of letters becomes embroiled in a sinister plot, Cross quickly finds himself committed to keeping his erstwhile enemy safe no matter what the cost…
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will their oath to never live again hold when they meet the right person whatever their differences are …
Since Cherry appeared in her brother’s story, I wondered if she would have her own as her life took a sad turn by the end of Hugh and Rosalind’s romance. I thought her a strong resilient and fair woman.
Why I confess I was furious at Cherry for not verifying her source of informations, whom can call oneself a slayer of the abusers without checking the hints she receives are true and not hearsay or false rumors. It is right to want to expose the villains but without a doubt of their guilt, else they will too become victims and discredit the bearer of the quill.
Then it was Cross a kind and caring fellow who upset me by simply staying silent and witnessing a tongue lashing on Cherry, it was cowardly from him and difficult to forgive whatever his history with her.
And after that there are those who abuse of the weak and the weak who bend…
This was definitely a tale to rise my pulse, luckily for me I have no heart problem at the time, else …
So to sum up, this is quite in part an angsty story, of a woman who feels helpless in the face of powerful men who gain from the system and the plight of the poor and forgotten, of a man who discovers some of his peers use their wealth and authority to abuse without fear of retribution. But the atmosphere moved in the second part, as they get to know one another and the plot unravels. Yet it was Cherry who was the most suspicious, even transferring her picture of the abusive men she wants to expose on Cross when he did nothing to justify her wrath. He is not flawless of course, but it does not make him a villain for not fully understanding the plights of those with a different skin color.
4.5 stars
𝔖𝔭𝔬𝔦𝔩𝔢𝔯 𝔭𝔞𝔯𝔱 :
.
.
.
They have come to know a Duke is involved in the Brotherhood why none of them thought to investigate the dukes, it is not like there were more than a few dozens of them (well outside in historical romances).
.
.
.
𝔈𝔫𝔡 𝔬𝔣 𝔰𝔭𝔬𝔦𝔩𝔢𝔯
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes
I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CaWxgu0A...
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #bookquote #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
March 27, 2022
Rating: 4.75
This follows Mrs Cherry Lambe and the Duke of Crossley. As always, this can be read as a standalone however having already met Cherry in a previous book I was very excited for her story. Cherry is bold and strong and makes her own path regardless of the rule of society. She is a widow with a young daughter and has sworn to never fall in love again after losing her husband and father of her child.
The Duke of Crossley is also widowed and has a 10 year of daughter. He hasn’t connected with anyone since his wife’s death except for his daughter and though he is possessed of excellent character he feels little. When he mistakenly meets Cherry he is immediately captivated and he acts very out of characters and makes his desire known - Cherry shoots this down immediately despite feeling a spark.
I knew Cherry would have a very unqiue story for she is a standout character and I loved every moment of it; from the fated few meetings full of desire, the mistaken article published slandering the duke, to her stay at the duke house to get to know him better – it was a delectable story. Both widowed and with daughters, Cherry and Cross both thought to have given up on love, but they find they bring out such a passion in each other that love Is inevitable. And even sweeter the blending of the families happens almost before they even decide anything, their two daughters get along wonderfully. And I loved Fiona and her machinations, she was hilarious and smart and bold.
I’m enjoying the overarching suspense plot and I like that it’s a continuation over the books in this series which is a style I haven’t read before. We got a lot further with this storyline and I enjoyed the Edith/ David plot, and I can’t wait to see this continue in the next book. And I have to say I really liked Edith’s character development and she definitely grew on me in this book!
Fenna never fails to deliver a beautiful emotional gripping story. I adore her characters, I’ve loved every single one of her books and this was no exception, she weaves stories full of heart, each one unique and compelling with the characters having different flaws and traumas.
And this one didn’t have too much miscommunication once they’d met properly! I enjoyed the openness and that they knew what they wanted pretty quickly. There was great banter and sparring but no anger despite unfounded accusations, they were flawed but so loving. It was perfect that Cross understood Cherry reacted because she felt helpless, and he handled things well once she’d enlightened him to what his peers were doing. I very much enjoyed their ever interaction and loved the themes Fenna brought into this one.
And it was very exciting confrontation at the end, and I like that we got lots of cameos of the other characters from other books Fenna has written. Overall I loved it and can’t wait for the next book in the series, Fenna is always an auto-read for me!
This follows Mrs Cherry Lambe and the Duke of Crossley. As always, this can be read as a standalone however having already met Cherry in a previous book I was very excited for her story. Cherry is bold and strong and makes her own path regardless of the rule of society. She is a widow with a young daughter and has sworn to never fall in love again after losing her husband and father of her child.
The Duke of Crossley is also widowed and has a 10 year of daughter. He hasn’t connected with anyone since his wife’s death except for his daughter and though he is possessed of excellent character he feels little. When he mistakenly meets Cherry he is immediately captivated and he acts very out of characters and makes his desire known - Cherry shoots this down immediately despite feeling a spark.
I knew Cherry would have a very unqiue story for she is a standout character and I loved every moment of it; from the fated few meetings full of desire, the mistaken article published slandering the duke, to her stay at the duke house to get to know him better – it was a delectable story. Both widowed and with daughters, Cherry and Cross both thought to have given up on love, but they find they bring out such a passion in each other that love Is inevitable. And even sweeter the blending of the families happens almost before they even decide anything, their two daughters get along wonderfully. And I loved Fiona and her machinations, she was hilarious and smart and bold.
I’m enjoying the overarching suspense plot and I like that it’s a continuation over the books in this series which is a style I haven’t read before. We got a lot further with this storyline and I enjoyed the Edith/ David plot, and I can’t wait to see this continue in the next book. And I have to say I really liked Edith’s character development and she definitely grew on me in this book!
Fenna never fails to deliver a beautiful emotional gripping story. I adore her characters, I’ve loved every single one of her books and this was no exception, she weaves stories full of heart, each one unique and compelling with the characters having different flaws and traumas.
And this one didn’t have too much miscommunication once they’d met properly! I enjoyed the openness and that they knew what they wanted pretty quickly. There was great banter and sparring but no anger despite unfounded accusations, they were flawed but so loving. It was perfect that Cross understood Cherry reacted because she felt helpless, and he handled things well once she’d enlightened him to what his peers were doing. I very much enjoyed their ever interaction and loved the themes Fenna brought into this one.
And it was very exciting confrontation at the end, and I like that we got lots of cameos of the other characters from other books Fenna has written. Overall I loved it and can’t wait for the next book in the series, Fenna is always an auto-read for me!
January 12, 2023
I loved this book! It was a page-turner, featuring characters I’ve encountered in other books in the series, while also introducing some new ones. To be honest, I wish I had read this one sooner as it explained a lot about the Black Lodge, the secret sociey that figures into so many of the related stories.This one is about Charlotte “Cherry” Lambe and the Duke of Crossly “Cross.” Both are widowed with daughters and both have avoided relationships with anyone else since the death of their spouse. Until they meet one another and there is an undeniable pull between them. I’m glad neither of them are stupid about their attraction and try to deny it for a ridiculous amount of time.
What’s odd about this book is that while Cherry and Cross are getting to know one another and the POV is switching back and forth between them, there are also chapters from the POV of Edith Carr, a friend who was kidnapped by the Black Lodge. At times, it was jarring because she had nothing to do with their love story, but for the most part it added a layer of intrigue and excitement to the story. Not only was Cherry trying to unmask the evil men of htis group and put an end to their shenanigans, but she was also trying to rescue her friend whom she thought they must have kidnapped. I feel like I must have run into Edith in some other stories, but I’m not sure which ones.
There were some funny things that Cherry pointed out that never would have occurred to me because I’m not black. When Cross starts to compare her skin to coffee, chocolate, or caramel custard, she stops him and asks if he ever compared his wife’s skin to food. And has he any idea how many times her skin has been compared to food. She then teases him by saying, “Your Grace, your skin is the most beautiful shade of watery milk I have ever seen. Your lips are as pink as sausages. Your eyes are as brown as a beef gravy.”
I also have one complaint—the misuse of I when the word should be me. ‘I’ is always the subject while ‘me’ is the object. For example, “Drink and then come for a walk with this little miss and I,” should read, “little miss and me.” Think about it. Would you say ‘walk with I’ or ‘walk with me’? There’s no reason that should change when there’s another person coming along. This is only one example. It occurs repeatedly throughout the book and got under my skin every time.
This book was so good, I really want to read A Duke for All Seasons now. I’m not one to impulsively buy books, but I’m going to have to get this next one. Also, I was excited to figure out that Cherry’s brother Phillip is married to Gracie Gardner’s sister, Rosalind, from Once upon a Midwinter’s Kiss. Now I want to read Rosalind and Phillip’s story too.
What’s odd about this book is that while Cherry and Cross are getting to know one another and the POV is switching back and forth between them, there are also chapters from the POV of Edith Carr, a friend who was kidnapped by the Black Lodge. At times, it was jarring because she had nothing to do with their love story, but for the most part it added a layer of intrigue and excitement to the story. Not only was Cherry trying to unmask the evil men of htis group and put an end to their shenanigans, but she was also trying to rescue her friend whom she thought they must have kidnapped. I feel like I must have run into Edith in some other stories, but I’m not sure which ones.
There were some funny things that Cherry pointed out that never would have occurred to me because I’m not black. When Cross starts to compare her skin to coffee, chocolate, or caramel custard, she stops him and asks if he ever compared his wife’s skin to food. And has he any idea how many times her skin has been compared to food. She then teases him by saying, “Your Grace, your skin is the most beautiful shade of watery milk I have ever seen. Your lips are as pink as sausages. Your eyes are as brown as a beef gravy.”
I also have one complaint—the misuse of I when the word should be me. ‘I’ is always the subject while ‘me’ is the object. For example, “Drink and then come for a walk with this little miss and I,” should read, “little miss and me.” Think about it. Would you say ‘walk with I’ or ‘walk with me’? There’s no reason that should change when there’s another person coming along. This is only one example. It occurs repeatedly throughout the book and got under my skin every time.
This book was so good, I really want to read A Duke for All Seasons now. I’m not one to impulsively buy books, but I’m going to have to get this next one. Also, I was excited to figure out that Cherry’s brother Phillip is married to Gracie Gardner’s sister, Rosalind, from Once upon a Midwinter’s Kiss. Now I want to read Rosalind and Phillip’s story too.
May 24, 2022
This is Book 2 in Ms. Edgewood's captivating Must Love Scandal series. This story has everything from romance and adventure to mystery and murder. I was drawn into the story right from the start and it kept me interested and intrigued till the end. The story featured strong women of color and also encompassed themes such as interracial relationships. This enemies to lover/second chance at love story features Cherry, journalist and a widow raising her 4-year-old daughter alone in London. She is passionate about her beliefs and is not afraid to speak up for women's rights and the injustices against them. Ewan has also lost his spouse and is raising his daughter alone. He still grieves the loss of his wife and doesn't wish to be with anyone else. That is, until he meets Cherry. There was no love lost between them when they first met, although quite a bit of physical attaction. When Cherry receives an anonymous tip and writes a scathing article about Ewan, he is determined to set the record straight and clear his name. As they spend more time together their attraction grows. I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow. But before their happy ending, manipulation and misunderstandings complicate their relationship.
Both main characters were strong and endearing and I enjoyed getting to know them. A creatively written story that held my interest the whole way through and I enjoyed it very much.
I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Both main characters were strong and endearing and I enjoyed getting to know them. A creatively written story that held my interest the whole way through and I enjoyed it very much.
I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.
April 11, 2022
A story of an intrepid reporter eagerly searching for the truth. Mrs. Cherry Lambe fights for womens rights, in particular, women of low rank and servants. When she receives a letter from a witness of a senseless murder, she enthusiastically posts its contents in the post. Outing The Duke of Crossley as the killer. To prove his innocence he invites her to his country estate to investigate him herself. She will soon learn the duke is far more than she realizes.
I loved Cherry’s tenacious spirit and strong will. She is a woman who will go to get lengths for those she cares about and those who cannot care for themselves. Cross is equally likeable in that he will always care for those he loves. You see much of his character in the personality of his daughter, Fiona. For a 10 year old girl, she is very worldly and has a tremendous heart. The passion between Cherry & Cross is evident from their very first encounter and you can tell that when they finally embrace that passion it will ignite like tinder. Their passion does not disappoint. I especially loved how Fenwood dealt with the prejudices of both race and class. This story gave a nice ending to the tragedy from the last book, bringing Edith’s story to a rather satisfying end.
A great story filled with intrigue, drama and of course a great deal of love & passion. .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 18, 2022
This book is the second installment of Ms. Edgewood's Must Love Scandal series but can be read as a standalone. Ms. Edgewood gives us a truly engaging story made more enjoyable for this reader due to the fact that the heroine was a woman of color. Charlotte “Cherry” Lambe and Ewan Orkney, the Duke of Crossley have had two very negative encounters where he encroaches on her personal space in a very "personal" way. Cherry is an activist for women's rights and is the author of a column which details the heinous activities of some members of the ton. When a source names the duke as one of the leaders of this nefarious group of noblemen, Cherry eviscerates him with her pen. In order to make amends for her mistake, Cherry and her daughter travel to the Duke's country estate. Imagine her surprise when she discovers that the duke is none other than the encroaching man she is unable to forget! The pair have much in common both having lost their respective spouses and being single parents. There is no hiding their growing attraction and their daughters are soon fast friends. However, real danger lurks; will the duke and Cherry emerge unscathed? I loved this story; it was funny and romantic and the multiple narrators made for very rich storytelling. . I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 16, 2022
Cherry is a fiesty widow with a four year old daughter. She is also a woman of color who uses her column in the newspaper to fight for the downtrodden. Cross, the Duke of Crossley, is a widower with a ten year old daughter. While inebriated at a ball, he mistakenly kisses the neck of a woman, who slaps him, disappears and subsequently haunts his dreams. When he is publicly accused of heinous crimes, he invites the author of that newspaper article to visit his estates in order to prove his innocense. Imagine his surprise when the woman of his dreams steps out of the carriage. This story reminds us that a person’s value does not lie in the color of their skin or their social standing, but in their character and the way they treat others. Cross is a remarkably confident and open minded man, who loves deeply and is fiercely loyal. He is the perfect partner for Cherry, the crusader. The author takes care to make her characters diverse, believable and realistic. Meanwhile, they are hunting two missing friends of friends, and trying to break up a human trafficking ring. This story has horrors and intrigue at one end of the spectrum, and compassion and steam at the other. It will hold your interest from beginning to end and leave you anxiously awaiting what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 3, 2022
Charlotte Lambe is passionate about helping kidnapped and abused young maids. She wrote a particularly avid article in her newspaper column after one showed up in the Thames.
The Scarlett Brotherhood is a secret society lead by a duke, but which duke? An anonymous letter to Cherry gives details of the monster in charge and his name, the Duke of Crossley. It is a lie. Cross decides to prove to Cherry he is innocent by inviting her to his country estate. He has nothing to hide. Losing his wife in childbirth ten years ago, he has been faithful to her memory and a loving papa to their daughter. Cherry lost her husband four years ago and has raised their daughter alone. There is an intense attraction between them. Cross is very persuasive in enticing Cherry behind locked doors. Don't forget, where are David and Edith? A meeting in a dark warehouse will answer some questions, but not all. To be continued in the next book. Steam level 🔥🔥🔥
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I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Scarlett Brotherhood is a secret society lead by a duke, but which duke? An anonymous letter to Cherry gives details of the monster in charge and his name, the Duke of Crossley. It is a lie. Cross decides to prove to Cherry he is innocent by inviting her to his country estate. He has nothing to hide. Losing his wife in childbirth ten years ago, he has been faithful to her memory and a loving papa to their daughter. Cherry lost her husband four years ago and has raised their daughter alone. There is an intense attraction between them. Cross is very persuasive in enticing Cherry behind locked doors. Don't forget, where are David and Edith? A meeting in a dark warehouse will answer some questions, but not all. To be continued in the next book. Steam level 🔥🔥🔥
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I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 15, 2022
Flaming the Duke ! . . .
Charlotte Lambe (“Cherry”) does what she does for all the best reasons. But writing an article to blatantly damage someone -- without checking her source and verifying the information -- is unconscionable, irresponsible, and made me immediately dislike the character.
As it turns out, Ewan Orkney, the Duke of Crossley, is not anything like the vile man she described in her article (“accused of foul play, abduction, and murder”). He has manners, is well-bred, and is a man of honor not deserving of the bashing Cherry did in print to ruin his reputation. She let herself be used to falsely embarrass the man and accuse him of horrible lies with no basis whatsoever. So he rightfully challenges his cowardly accuser to come to his estate and investigate the accusations in person.
When the tables turn and Cherry is put in danger, the Duke becomes her protector and somehow finds himself falling for the female. Can he keep her safe? Will they find out who is trying to kill her?
Charlotte Lambe (“Cherry”) does what she does for all the best reasons. But writing an article to blatantly damage someone -- without checking her source and verifying the information -- is unconscionable, irresponsible, and made me immediately dislike the character.
As it turns out, Ewan Orkney, the Duke of Crossley, is not anything like the vile man she described in her article (“accused of foul play, abduction, and murder”). He has manners, is well-bred, and is a man of honor not deserving of the bashing Cherry did in print to ruin his reputation. She let herself be used to falsely embarrass the man and accuse him of horrible lies with no basis whatsoever. So he rightfully challenges his cowardly accuser to come to his estate and investigate the accusations in person.
When the tables turn and Cherry is put in danger, the Duke becomes her protector and somehow finds himself falling for the female. Can he keep her safe? Will they find out who is trying to kill her?
Read
February 13, 20234.55 stars
Ewan James Orkney Aka Cross the Duke of Crossley and Charlotte Lamb Aka Cherry are quite a pair! A couple that seems so wrong and yet feel so right! It is a cliff hanger and leaves so many unanswered questions! Cherry is a mother and yet fearless and giving to protect others.
She forged ahead with few facts and not all of the story on a very innocent and more than honorable man.
When Cherry is invited to spend time with Cross she is also closer to the secret society of the Black Lodge than ever!
The story ends on what happened to Edith but David life is in peril and no real update as to his fate!
Cross is a fierce protector and has many an embarrassing encounter with Cherry before they even know who they are!?
There is kidnapping, friends involved with of course a HEA!
Can a person go through so much she changes beyond recognition? Yes read this story with Edith and David interwoven and you will laugh and cry!
Bravo couldn’t put this one down for the superbowl!!!
Ewan James Orkney Aka Cross the Duke of Crossley and Charlotte Lamb Aka Cherry are quite a pair! A couple that seems so wrong and yet feel so right! It is a cliff hanger and leaves so many unanswered questions! Cherry is a mother and yet fearless and giving to protect others.
She forged ahead with few facts and not all of the story on a very innocent and more than honorable man.
When Cherry is invited to spend time with Cross she is also closer to the secret society of the Black Lodge than ever!
The story ends on what happened to Edith but David life is in peril and no real update as to his fate!
Cross is a fierce protector and has many an embarrassing encounter with Cherry before they even know who they are!?
There is kidnapping, friends involved with of course a HEA!
Can a person go through so much she changes beyond recognition? Yes read this story with Edith and David interwoven and you will laugh and cry!
Bravo couldn’t put this one down for the superbowl!!!
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