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Wallflowers vs. Rogues #3
Duke Most Wicked
USA Today bestselling author Lenora Bell returns to the Wallflowers vs. Rogues series with a brilliant new novel about a scandalous duke and a wallflower with a secret.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a wicked duke who has gambled away his fortune must be in want of an heiress.
Scarred by a dark secret, Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, must concede his misdeeds have finally caught up with him. With five younger sisters to support, he must marry for money.
Sunny and steadfast, Viola Beaton is no heiress. As music instructor to the duke’s sisters, she’s developed a genuine affection for the bright young ladies. Unfortunately, she’s also developed a forbidden passion for her wildly attractive employer.
It must be the way he inspires her to compose sonatas about moonlight and kisses. Or how his gaze smolders and lingers on her skin. Or because he makes her heart whisper impossible things.
When Westbury decrees that he’ll choose not only a bride, but grooms for his sisters, Viola can’t allow him to curtail their freedom. She strikes a bargain: if he allows his sisters to attend the Season, Viola will chaperone them and keep them safe from scandal.
Only…what if Viola and the duke are the ones most likely to cause a scandal?
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a wicked duke who has gambled away his fortune must be in want of an heiress.
Scarred by a dark secret, Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, must concede his misdeeds have finally caught up with him. With five younger sisters to support, he must marry for money.
Sunny and steadfast, Viola Beaton is no heiress. As music instructor to the duke’s sisters, she’s developed a genuine affection for the bright young ladies. Unfortunately, she’s also developed a forbidden passion for her wildly attractive employer.
It must be the way he inspires her to compose sonatas about moonlight and kisses. Or how his gaze smolders and lingers on her skin. Or because he makes her heart whisper impossible things.
When Westbury decrees that he’ll choose not only a bride, but grooms for his sisters, Viola can’t allow him to curtail their freedom. She strikes a bargain: if he allows his sisters to attend the Season, Viola will chaperone them and keep them safe from scandal.
Only…what if Viola and the duke are the ones most likely to cause a scandal?
391 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 27, 2022
139 people are currently reading
4593 people want to read
About the author
Lenora Bell
12 books1,394 followersLenora Bell is a USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of historical romances with Avon Books. A teacher with an MFA in Creative Writing, Lenora has lived and worked on five continents. She's currently lives in Colombia with her partner and two tiger-striped rescue kitties. She loves hearing from readers!
Learn more at www.LenoraBell.com
Learn more at www.LenoraBell.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
July 9, 2022
✨Kiss the girl turns into gamahuche the girl✨
Alternative intros:
✨Under the sea and her skirts✨
✨Dinglehopper me daddy✨
✨Darling it’s better down where it’s wetter✨
*Lenora told me this is Little Mermaid inspired which I totally see but I also saw Snow White first so just go with the bits I wrote about Snow White I promise it all makes sense*
This was super cute and fluffy with a bit of an edge. Lenora does such a good job of writing cinnamon rolls with a bit of a dick complex to keep them interesting. Sounds weird but there’s always something a little more substantial to just the pure puppy dog, cinnamon roll type. Like Hugh Grant. West gave me major Hugh-Grant-in-Two-Weeks-Notice-if-Hugh-Grant-in-Two-Weeks-Notice-had-tree-trunk-thighs-and-looked-like-Thor vibes. Hugh always plays a bit of an ass but a nice shapely attractive ass.
From earlier books, I had wondered how I’d come to like a duke who squandered everything and wasn’t paying Viola. Well, it was never really a hard task. He definitely started the book making questionable decisions, but the book opened with a glimpse into his past so you knew where it all stemmed from. He was definitely a misguided crab trying to pair his sisters up but he redeemed himself swimmingly.
Viola was as lovely as ever and I loved seeing her tell West off a few times. There banter was great and I loved her relationship with his sisters. Speaking of his sisters, I LOVED them. They reminded me a bit of the kids from Overboard and Nanny McPhee or Cheaper By the Dozen when the kids were trying to get rid of Hank. They meddled with his fiancé of convenience and it made that *annoying* decision of his fun! I also just love how that plot line was concluded. It was hilarious and I simply wasn’t expecting it. It also didn’t go on too long to where I started questioning everybody.
As for the Little Mermaid references, they are as a-plenty as gadgets and gizmos but I’ll let you suss them out for yourself because it’s more fun that way. Maybe watch the movie before this one so you’re not as dense as I was. Oh good god I just keep thinking of more and I will note this one because I can’t not: “Up where they stay all day in the sun” and SHE’S the sun I can’t. I CANNOT. And maybe pay attention to Miss Chandler’s name because that one wrecked me too.
The steam was maybe a bit more than we got in book one and a bit less than what we got in book two. That last scene was a perfect conclusion and a surprise! Also when they had a bit of time left until morning and they just talked??? Be still my heart. The pining really did me in here. I can definitely see the “part of your world” tone of Viola’s thinking because she was really down bad for that man. Her crush was very relatable and oof I just really related to her character.
I read this one straight through and super fast. It was the perfect read I needed to cleanse my mind of a previous disappointment. I laughed, I cried, I got a shot…it perfectly delivered on what I expected from West and Viola! I’ve been looking forward to their book for so long and I’m so happy it’s a winner. I was able to just enjoy the ride with this one. I wasn’t emotionally overtaxed, but I wasn’t anything less than riveted either.
Lenora’s writing is perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Eloisa James who want a light and steamy time! I’ve now read five of her books and have loved them ALL. I own the rest and need to make quick work of them because each one is such a joy. While this can easily be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first two books in the series just because they’re fun and set this one up nicely. I’d also suggest reading One Fine Duke as well because there are some fun references to that one as well.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.25/5
Taylor Swift song pairing: Begin Again
🍎
Now for the part where my college close-reading brain comes out of hibernation and further speculates on the Snow White parallels:
✨Snow White without a magic mirror but a lot of fornication and gamahuche on the wall✨
As for the Snow White, this is Snow White right??? *we know it’s wrong but it feels so right* He said “Hey ho” which reminded me a lot of “Heigh ho” and he even broke out into a tavern chant that had the “Heigh ho” vibes. I could be stretching [she was indeed stretching] but she was sunny and chirpy and wrangled his five (not seven but technically he and all of his siblings made seven OR she makes seven with him an his sisters because now they’re ever family) sisters with ease and was definitely all twinkly and musical.
She wore a red dress which could be an ode to the apple? And her dress had a square neckline and capped sleeves like Snow’s dress. But apples were also mentioned twice when West was referencing his poisonous father. And Viola’s kind of the fairest of them all because she just makes everybody happy and could probably convince West to dance around with woodland creatures if she asked him nicely…or insulted him he’s really a man of many persuasions.
And instead of a “mirror mirror on the wall” they just banged against the wall, which is honestly a better use of everyone’s time. Wicked could also be a subversive reference to the Evil Queen, commonly referred to as the Wicked Queen… And there’s a quote about women always having to be pure as snow toooooo…
I feel like I need to go watch Snow White to see what I’m missing because Lenora snuck so many Cinderella Easter eggs into book 2 that I did NOT notice. Book 1 was very, very obvious lol. (The magic mirror can be found in book two if you know what I mean.) And also from the summary, there’s clear reference to Pride and Prejudice here as well! There’s the wet, plastered shirt moment, a few very clear odes to the book, plus the whole “say exactly what I wish to say when I wish to say it” bit from You’ve got Mail.
If you’ve made it this far, I’ve got the inside scoop that this did originate as Snow White so I’m not THAT loony toons. It’s very impressive how it works for both of them I’m so in love.
🍎
Thank you to the publisher for a free digital arc via NetGalley! All opinions are honest and my own.
Alternative intros:
✨Under the sea and her skirts✨
✨Dinglehopper me daddy✨
✨Darling it’s better down where it’s wetter✨
*Lenora told me this is Little Mermaid inspired which I totally see but I also saw Snow White first so just go with the bits I wrote about Snow White I promise it all makes sense*
This was super cute and fluffy with a bit of an edge. Lenora does such a good job of writing cinnamon rolls with a bit of a dick complex to keep them interesting. Sounds weird but there’s always something a little more substantial to just the pure puppy dog, cinnamon roll type. Like Hugh Grant. West gave me major Hugh-Grant-in-Two-Weeks-Notice-if-Hugh-Grant-in-Two-Weeks-Notice-had-tree-trunk-thighs-and-looked-like-Thor vibes. Hugh always plays a bit of an ass but a nice shapely attractive ass.
From earlier books, I had wondered how I’d come to like a duke who squandered everything and wasn’t paying Viola. Well, it was never really a hard task. He definitely started the book making questionable decisions, but the book opened with a glimpse into his past so you knew where it all stemmed from. He was definitely a misguided crab trying to pair his sisters up but he redeemed himself swimmingly.
Viola was as lovely as ever and I loved seeing her tell West off a few times. There banter was great and I loved her relationship with his sisters. Speaking of his sisters, I LOVED them. They reminded me a bit of the kids from Overboard and Nanny McPhee or Cheaper By the Dozen when the kids were trying to get rid of Hank. They meddled with his fiancé of convenience and it made that *annoying* decision of his fun! I also just love how that plot line was concluded. It was hilarious and I simply wasn’t expecting it. It also didn’t go on too long to where I started questioning everybody.
As for the Little Mermaid references, they are as a-plenty as gadgets and gizmos but I’ll let you suss them out for yourself because it’s more fun that way. Maybe watch the movie before this one so you’re not as dense as I was. Oh good god I just keep thinking of more and I will note this one because I can’t not: “Up where they stay all day in the sun” and SHE’S the sun I can’t. I CANNOT. And maybe pay attention to Miss Chandler’s name because that one wrecked me too.
The steam was maybe a bit more than we got in book one and a bit less than what we got in book two. That last scene was a perfect conclusion and a surprise! Also when they had a bit of time left until morning and they just talked??? Be still my heart. The pining really did me in here. I can definitely see the “part of your world” tone of Viola’s thinking because she was really down bad for that man. Her crush was very relatable and oof I just really related to her character.
I read this one straight through and super fast. It was the perfect read I needed to cleanse my mind of a previous disappointment. I laughed, I cried, I got a shot…it perfectly delivered on what I expected from West and Viola! I’ve been looking forward to their book for so long and I’m so happy it’s a winner. I was able to just enjoy the ride with this one. I wasn’t emotionally overtaxed, but I wasn’t anything less than riveted either.
Lenora’s writing is perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Eloisa James who want a light and steamy time! I’ve now read five of her books and have loved them ALL. I own the rest and need to make quick work of them because each one is such a joy. While this can easily be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first two books in the series just because they’re fun and set this one up nicely. I’d also suggest reading One Fine Duke as well because there are some fun references to that one as well.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.25/5
Taylor Swift song pairing: Begin Again
🍎
Now for the part where my college close-reading brain comes out of hibernation and further speculates on the Snow White parallels:
✨Snow White without a magic mirror but a lot of fornication and gamahuche on the wall✨
As for the Snow White, this is Snow White right??? *we know it’s wrong but it feels so right* He said “Hey ho” which reminded me a lot of “Heigh ho” and he even broke out into a tavern chant that had the “Heigh ho” vibes. I could be stretching [she was indeed stretching] but she was sunny and chirpy and wrangled his five (not seven but technically he and all of his siblings made seven OR she makes seven with him an his sisters because now they’re ever family) sisters with ease and was definitely all twinkly and musical.
She wore a red dress which could be an ode to the apple? And her dress had a square neckline and capped sleeves like Snow’s dress. But apples were also mentioned twice when West was referencing his poisonous father. And Viola’s kind of the fairest of them all because she just makes everybody happy and could probably convince West to dance around with woodland creatures if she asked him nicely…or insulted him he’s really a man of many persuasions.
And instead of a “mirror mirror on the wall” they just banged against the wall, which is honestly a better use of everyone’s time. Wicked could also be a subversive reference to the Evil Queen, commonly referred to as the Wicked Queen… And there’s a quote about women always having to be pure as snow toooooo…
I feel like I need to go watch Snow White to see what I’m missing because Lenora snuck so many Cinderella Easter eggs into book 2 that I did NOT notice. Book 1 was very, very obvious lol. (The magic mirror can be found in book two if you know what I mean.) And also from the summary, there’s clear reference to Pride and Prejudice here as well! There’s the wet, plastered shirt moment, a few very clear odes to the book, plus the whole “say exactly what I wish to say when I wish to say it” bit from You’ve got Mail.
If you’ve made it this far, I’ve got the inside scoop that this did originate as Snow White so I’m not THAT loony toons. It’s very impressive how it works for both of them I’m so in love.
🍎
Thank you to the publisher for a free digital arc via NetGalley! All opinions are honest and my own.
December 7, 2022
I usually adore Lenora Bell’s work but this has been my least favourite book of hers and my least favourite in the series.
Something about it felt bland and I couldn’t connect to the story. And so I didn’t care for the characters and the journey they went on.
The romance wasn’t convincing. The writing didn’t convey much emotion for me. Though the heroine was pining for the hero, I failed to understand why that was the case. In general, pining is supposed to feel deliciously torturous, the ‘forbidden’ nature of their romance — due to the class difference and the heroine being under the employment of the hero — should’ve added to that torturous element, but I felt nothing.
This story lacked certain emotional and pacing beats Lenora Bell usually hits. This just didn’t work for me.
Something about it felt bland and I couldn’t connect to the story. And so I didn’t care for the characters and the journey they went on.
The romance wasn’t convincing. The writing didn’t convey much emotion for me. Though the heroine was pining for the hero, I failed to understand why that was the case. In general, pining is supposed to feel deliciously torturous, the ‘forbidden’ nature of their romance — due to the class difference and the heroine being under the employment of the hero — should’ve added to that torturous element, but I felt nothing.
This story lacked certain emotional and pacing beats Lenora Bell usually hits. This just didn’t work for me.
December 16, 2022
4.5
I love Lenora Bell's historical romances so much. This one had such a fun cast of characters and reminded me so much of the Smythe-Smith series by Julia Quinn! In this one, the hero is treated horribly by his father and decides to waste away their money on gambling. Now, though, he's realized what he's done for his sisters and decides he needs to marry well so that they can find suitable matches. But then he starts noticing his sisters' music teacher even more...and she doesn't keep quiet about how she feels about him trying to marry off his sisters to people they don't want to marry. I just loved the hero's sisters and how much they were involved in the plot. The chemistry between the her and heroine was so good and I just love a good class difference romance!
I love Lenora Bell's historical romances so much. This one had such a fun cast of characters and reminded me so much of the Smythe-Smith series by Julia Quinn! In this one, the hero is treated horribly by his father and decides to waste away their money on gambling. Now, though, he's realized what he's done for his sisters and decides he needs to marry well so that they can find suitable matches. But then he starts noticing his sisters' music teacher even more...and she doesn't keep quiet about how she feels about him trying to marry off his sisters to people they don't want to marry. I just loved the hero's sisters and how much they were involved in the plot. The chemistry between the her and heroine was so good and I just love a good class difference romance!
September 24, 2022
Viola and West had a really fun relationship. Viola is the daughter of a famous, but shamed, composer newly hired to teach music to the Duke of Westbury's sisters.
West is the wicked Duke. Who has lived a life of sin and depravity since his father confessed the damning nature of his birth to him.
Now financially ruined and seeking to repair his reputation so his sisters make appropriate matches, West finds himself in need of a wealthy Heiress for his potential new Duchess. Which immediately excludes Viola.
But Viola has pined for West for a long time and can't help falling in love with him, while West desires her physically for most of the book.
This was a fun, cute story most of the time. But I struggled to feel invested in their romance, largely because of how Viola spent the vast majority of the book pining for West. He was a difficult hero for me. And we get very little POV from him and next to nothing of his feelings for her other than the obvious one: his desire for her physically.
For a wicked Duke his character growth was very minimal, until the very end. And that is something I particularly dislike.
I received an ARC for review
West is the wicked Duke. Who has lived a life of sin and depravity since his father confessed the damning nature of his birth to him.
Now financially ruined and seeking to repair his reputation so his sisters make appropriate matches, West finds himself in need of a wealthy Heiress for his potential new Duchess. Which immediately excludes Viola.
But Viola has pined for West for a long time and can't help falling in love with him, while West desires her physically for most of the book.
This was a fun, cute story most of the time. But I struggled to feel invested in their romance, largely because of how Viola spent the vast majority of the book pining for West. He was a difficult hero for me. And we get very little POV from him and next to nothing of his feelings for her other than the obvious one: his desire for her physically.
For a wicked Duke his character growth was very minimal, until the very end. And that is something I particularly dislike.
I received an ARC for review
September 27, 2022
"You're a forever kind of girl. You're sunshine and buttered toast. I don't want to hurt you"
Viola and Westbury's story has been simmering for a while in the background of Lenora's prior books, so I was excited to be able to read this prior to publication and review it!
As others have mentioned, the first act is essentially West deciding to marry an American heiress to refill the coffers. I was concerned this would have an extremely annoying conclusion, but I was thrilled with how they tied it up, truly the only way that plotline could have ended positively.
The second half is really where the tension and romance ramps up, but the book was a quick enough read that it didn't bother me!
The longing in this one was so well done because it truly seems impossible for them to marry with West's money problems and dedication to his family. The resolution of these issues was awfully convenient but it was so late in the book that you knew it was coming and ultimately just wanted them to get together!
I definitely recommend this if you like YEARNING and LONGING !
P.S. when are we getting Rafe's book? Tell me more about the CHAIR??
________________________
I just recently discovered Lenora Bell and absolutely tore through the previous series and the first two of this series, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to read an ARC of Duke Most Wicked.
Something I've loved about Lenora's books is so much of the conflict is inner turmoil, rather than miscommunication. The hero and heroine always feel well developed, and their motivations and personalities are three dimensional.
More specific rtc in a bit!
May 1, 2022
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book! I can’t wait for the next book in the series and still hope we get Jax’s story.
Full RTC
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Full RTC
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
May 15, 2022
Duke Most Wicked is the 3rd book in Lenora Bell’s Wallflowers Vs. Rogues series and hands-down my favorite read from this author yet! This is a class difference romance between a “wicked” Duke and the heroine he hires as the music teacher for his sisters. But wow, was it so much more!
Right from the prologue this story grabbed my attention and was so heart-achy! It broke my heart to read about 12-year-old Brandan asking his mother why his father hates him and why nothing he ever does is good enough for his father the Duke. And then all the dealings with his father after that. Because of secrets in his past, Brandan set out to be the absolute worst Duke’s heir in the world. He decided he would become wild and wicked, break all of society’s rules, and live like there was no tomorrow. The story then jumps to 16 years later, where Brandan Delamar is now the Duke of Westbury.
With 5 younger sisters to support and financial troubles, Brandan must marry for money. Viola Beaton is the music teacher to the Duke’s sisters and no heiress, but she has developed a forbidden passion for her employer. When West decrees that he that he’ll choose a bride for himself, as well as grooms for his sisters…Viola steps in because she has grown to adore his sisters and doesn’t want their husbands chosen for them. She strikes a bargain: if he’ll allow his sisters to attend the Season to have their own choice of suitors, Viola will chaperone and keep them safe from scandal. Now West and Viola are spending more time around one another and he is finding that no heiress lives up to the feelings he has for the music teacher… And along the way maybe Viola will help West reform some of his wicked, rakish ways.
The angst in this one was so good! I love a class difference romance and the wicked Duke with the hired music teacher for his sisters, was just everything. The romance was so good, their banter and chemistry just leaped from the page and I couldn’t get enough of West and Viola. I also loved seeing her relationship with his sisters, her father who is a composer and losing his hearing, his sisters (Blanche, Bernadette, Belinda, Betsy, Birdie) were all so charming, his friend Rafe, a proposal involving gravestones, a piano bench custom-made for reasons 🔥.
Thank you to the publisher (Avon Books) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own. Duke Most Wicked has a publish date of September 27, 2022.
Right from the prologue this story grabbed my attention and was so heart-achy! It broke my heart to read about 12-year-old Brandan asking his mother why his father hates him and why nothing he ever does is good enough for his father the Duke. And then all the dealings with his father after that. Because of secrets in his past, Brandan set out to be the absolute worst Duke’s heir in the world. He decided he would become wild and wicked, break all of society’s rules, and live like there was no tomorrow. The story then jumps to 16 years later, where Brandan Delamar is now the Duke of Westbury.
With 5 younger sisters to support and financial troubles, Brandan must marry for money. Viola Beaton is the music teacher to the Duke’s sisters and no heiress, but she has developed a forbidden passion for her employer. When West decrees that he that he’ll choose a bride for himself, as well as grooms for his sisters…Viola steps in because she has grown to adore his sisters and doesn’t want their husbands chosen for them. She strikes a bargain: if he’ll allow his sisters to attend the Season to have their own choice of suitors, Viola will chaperone and keep them safe from scandal. Now West and Viola are spending more time around one another and he is finding that no heiress lives up to the feelings he has for the music teacher… And along the way maybe Viola will help West reform some of his wicked, rakish ways.
The angst in this one was so good! I love a class difference romance and the wicked Duke with the hired music teacher for his sisters, was just everything. The romance was so good, their banter and chemistry just leaped from the page and I couldn’t get enough of West and Viola. I also loved seeing her relationship with his sisters, her father who is a composer and losing his hearing, his sisters (Blanche, Bernadette, Belinda, Betsy, Birdie) were all so charming, his friend Rafe, a proposal involving gravestones, a piano bench custom-made for reasons 🔥.
Thank you to the publisher (Avon Books) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own. Duke Most Wicked has a publish date of September 27, 2022.
August 13, 2022
Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, has lived a reckless life. But with five sisters to support, he must marry money to provide for their dowries and his crumbling estate. His sisters want nothing to do with his heavy-handed ways, though, and have an ally in their music instructor, Miss Viola Beaton. More than their teacher, Viola has been keeping the peace in the Duke's home; so, when she and Brandan quarrel and she quits, he gets a glimpse of the chaos in his household. Viola agrees to come back and help chaperone his sisters for the season, but maybe she is the one that needs protection from scandal!
This is the third book in the Wallflowers vs. Rogues series. It can be read alone, but there are mentions of characters and events from the other stories. There are also quite a few winks for readers of Bell's School for Dukes series.
This book was like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day: sweet, frothy, and just what I wanted. I really enjoyed West and Viola's interactions and the pacing of their romance. I also appreciated the strong theme of friendship: Viola with her social club, and with West's sisters, but also West with his friends. It all felt very genuine and fleshed out the characters and story. (4.5 stars rounded to 5)
Tropes: Class Difference, Working Heroine, Secret Crush, Forced Proximity
Steam: 4 (four scenes, but two were on the shorter side)
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #DukeMostWicked #NetGalley
This is the third book in the Wallflowers vs. Rogues series. It can be read alone, but there are mentions of characters and events from the other stories. There are also quite a few winks for readers of Bell's School for Dukes series.
This book was like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day: sweet, frothy, and just what I wanted. I really enjoyed West and Viola's interactions and the pacing of their romance. I also appreciated the strong theme of friendship: Viola with her social club, and with West's sisters, but also West with his friends. It all felt very genuine and fleshed out the characters and story. (4.5 stars rounded to 5)
Tropes: Class Difference, Working Heroine, Secret Crush, Forced Proximity
Steam: 4 (four scenes, but two were on the shorter side)
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #DukeMostWicked #NetGalley
February 21, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars
I would have rated this 2 stars if it wasn't for the originality of Westbury's sisters. His sisters gave this book some flavor and spirit, and took it from being blah to okay.
The characters were fine but nothing exciting to write home about.
Viola Beaton was the more original of the two and I loved to read about her passion for music and composing.
Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury felt stilted, inadequate and like a caricature.
The dialogue between Viola and Westbury also felt bland and ridiculous at times.
In fact, I thought Westbury acted like a victim most of the time because of his "daddy issues" and I really didn't find him that attractive with this type of mentality.
After reading tons of historical romance over the years, I think dialogue and wittiness matters more than the smut and love scenes. If you have that nailed down in a book, then the love and chemistry will be like a bolt of lightning and it's hard to put a book like that down.
Huh, maybe I'm just getting old. 😂🤣
I'm not sure if Lenora Bell is a romance author that I want to keep reading unless there's a plot that just jumps out at me.
I would have rated this 2 stars if it wasn't for the originality of Westbury's sisters. His sisters gave this book some flavor and spirit, and took it from being blah to okay.
The characters were fine but nothing exciting to write home about.
Viola Beaton was the more original of the two and I loved to read about her passion for music and composing.
Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury felt stilted, inadequate and like a caricature.
The dialogue between Viola and Westbury also felt bland and ridiculous at times.
In fact, I thought Westbury acted like a victim most of the time because of his "daddy issues" and I really didn't find him that attractive with this type of mentality.
After reading tons of historical romance over the years, I think dialogue and wittiness matters more than the smut and love scenes. If you have that nailed down in a book, then the love and chemistry will be like a bolt of lightning and it's hard to put a book like that down.
Huh, maybe I'm just getting old. 😂🤣
I'm not sure if Lenora Bell is a romance author that I want to keep reading unless there's a plot that just jumps out at me.
September 26, 2022
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (varies)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 If you are GENEROUS. 2 are very close together and 1 is quite short (about a page)
Humor: Yes, a bit, though maybe not as much as her prior novels
Perspective: Third perspective from both hero and heroine
(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 one is okay if you don’t mind a plethora of previously introduced characters having page time. She does connect her various series in the same world (for example, Indie has some page time and she’s from For the Duke’s Eyes Only (book 2 of the School for Dukes series) as well as the previous heroines from this series, Wallflowers vs Rogues)
Basic plot:
Viola has longed for the duke while teaching his 5 younger sisters music but knows it’s never to be. Now she also has to watch him pursue an heiress to save his sister’s reputations and their finances.
Give this a try if you want:
- Musician heroine
- A bit of sunshine and grump feel
- I don’t think the heroine is full figured necessarily but she describes herself as ‘too short and too round for current fashion’
- Regency time period (? exact year unknown)
- London setting
- Medium steam – it’s all concentrated at the end of the book with 4 scenes if you’re generous (2 are close together and another is quite short)
- Hero needs an heiress
- Employer/employee relationship – heroine teaches music to the duke’s 5 younger sisters
- Unrequited love – heroine has longed for the duke while employed
- Working women – heroine has her own career that she expands in the book
Ages:
- Hero is 28, heroine is 24
My thoughts:
Wah, I am not sure what happened here. Honestly I think it was the expectations. I was just so excited for this book! I love the cover, I was seeing fabulous reviews everywhere, and unfortunately it flopped for me a bit.
This novel really is great. It just has a few things that I bemoan in a romance novel. The big thing for me was I felt like they were hardly together in the first half of the book. I was drowning in secondary characters. I actually kept track and they are only on page together 19% of the first 50%. And that really killed it for me. In the entire book I think they were on page together about 53%. Which was just not enough for me to really love them and feel their tension and longing together.
I will say the second half was MUCH better for me. But by the time I was starting to get into the story, it was over. So I am sad about all that. I don’t think it will bother most people though, so let’s talk about what’s good with it!!
Oh I really enjoyed Viola. She’s got dimples and she’s a musician and she’s so cute and fun and already has a great relationship with West’s entire household staff. She’s just lovely. She helps take care of her aging father, who is also a composer, and he’s losing his hearing so it’s quite an emotional toll on her to be his caretaker. Viola grows over the course of the book – her career takes off through her hard work and as she develops more confidence and starts living for herself you can see her blossom.
West, I’ll admit I didn’t like as much. I think I could have! But he kind of noticed Viola in THAT way but then I wasn’t convinced of it when we got into the book. I wanted some more pining from him.
The sexy scenes were fabulous. I loved it and thought it had a good emotional pull but for me it was just too little too late to really love their love story or feel like they would be totally happy forever. West came off to me a bit immature instead of Wicked, a bit naive. Not purposefully hurtful but just not the amazing husband I wanted for Viola.
So ultimately these two just got lost a bit for me with everything else going on in the book and I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. But it’s a lovely novel worth giving a try!
Random notes and quotes:
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (varies)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 If you are GENEROUS. 2 are very close together and 1 is quite short (about a page)
Humor: Yes, a bit, though maybe not as much as her prior novels
Perspective: Third perspective from both hero and heroine
(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 one is okay if you don’t mind a plethora of previously introduced characters having page time. She does connect her various series in the same world (for example, Indie has some page time and she’s from For the Duke’s Eyes Only (book 2 of the School for Dukes series) as well as the previous heroines from this series, Wallflowers vs Rogues)
Basic plot:
Viola has longed for the duke while teaching his 5 younger sisters music but knows it’s never to be. Now she also has to watch him pursue an heiress to save his sister’s reputations and their finances.
Give this a try if you want:
- Musician heroine
- A bit of sunshine and grump feel
- I don’t think the heroine is full figured necessarily but she describes herself as ‘too short and too round for current fashion’
- Regency time period (? exact year unknown)
- London setting
- Medium steam – it’s all concentrated at the end of the book with 4 scenes if you’re generous (2 are close together and another is quite short)
- Hero needs an heiress
- Employer/employee relationship – heroine teaches music to the duke’s 5 younger sisters
- Unrequited love – heroine has longed for the duke while employed
- Working women – heroine has her own career that she expands in the book
Ages:
- Hero is 28, heroine is 24
My thoughts:
Wah, I am not sure what happened here. Honestly I think it was the expectations. I was just so excited for this book! I love the cover, I was seeing fabulous reviews everywhere, and unfortunately it flopped for me a bit.
This novel really is great. It just has a few things that I bemoan in a romance novel. The big thing for me was I felt like they were hardly together in the first half of the book. I was drowning in secondary characters. I actually kept track and they are only on page together 19% of the first 50%. And that really killed it for me. In the entire book I think they were on page together about 53%. Which was just not enough for me to really love them and feel their tension and longing together.
I will say the second half was MUCH better for me. But by the time I was starting to get into the story, it was over. So I am sad about all that. I don’t think it will bother most people though, so let’s talk about what’s good with it!!
Oh I really enjoyed Viola. She’s got dimples and she’s a musician and she’s so cute and fun and already has a great relationship with West’s entire household staff. She’s just lovely. She helps take care of her aging father, who is also a composer, and he’s losing his hearing so it’s quite an emotional toll on her to be his caretaker. Viola grows over the course of the book – her career takes off through her hard work and as she develops more confidence and starts living for herself you can see her blossom.
West, I’ll admit I didn’t like as much. I think I could have! But he kind of noticed Viola in THAT way but then I wasn’t convinced of it when we got into the book. I wanted some more pining from him.
The sexy scenes were fabulous. I loved it and thought it had a good emotional pull but for me it was just too little too late to really love their love story or feel like they would be totally happy forever. West came off to me a bit immature instead of Wicked, a bit naive. Not purposefully hurtful but just not the amazing husband I wanted for Viola.
So ultimately these two just got lost a bit for me with everything else going on in the book and I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. But it’s a lovely novel worth giving a try!
Random notes and quotes:
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
January 28, 2023
Just the book I needed to get me out of my reading slump! This book was a sweet slowburn with lovable main characters, meddling sisters, and tropes that make it such a fun read.
Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, was told his whole childhood how wicked he was by his father. Now grown, West had no other choice but to live up to that wicked title and gambled away his fortune. Now he is in need of an heiress, but with never feeling loved his while life, he doesn't believe it exists.
Viola Beaton is the duke's sisters' music instructor. She's a sunny personality who not only has accepted the roll of a wallflower, but also has a secret hidden in her love for music. While she might not be an heiress, she can't help being drawn to the dastardly Duke....
I loved this slow burn romance so much. The characters were so well developed, including the side ones, that I could not put this book down. West is my favorite kind of hero, the grumpy kind with a troubled past but still cares for those around him. And Viola was also such a sweet sole who keeps the peace and eventually learns to do things for herself. They made such a sweet couple and I'm glad I picked this up when I did!!
Thank you to netgally for an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, was told his whole childhood how wicked he was by his father. Now grown, West had no other choice but to live up to that wicked title and gambled away his fortune. Now he is in need of an heiress, but with never feeling loved his while life, he doesn't believe it exists.
Viola Beaton is the duke's sisters' music instructor. She's a sunny personality who not only has accepted the roll of a wallflower, but also has a secret hidden in her love for music. While she might not be an heiress, she can't help being drawn to the dastardly Duke....
I loved this slow burn romance so much. The characters were so well developed, including the side ones, that I could not put this book down. West is my favorite kind of hero, the grumpy kind with a troubled past but still cares for those around him. And Viola was also such a sweet sole who keeps the peace and eventually learns to do things for herself. They made such a sweet couple and I'm glad I picked this up when I did!!
Thank you to netgally for an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Read
October 2, 2022A hero who doesn't believe in love because of his depressing and childhood filled with abuse from his father. A heroine who is the tutor of the hero's sisters and is secretly in love with him? What could possibly happen but for a slow burn romance!
August 15, 2022
4 Stars
He was sin incarnate. Dangerously depraved. Wicked Westbury.
Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury is London's most wicked rogue with gambling, women, and booze. He's fallen on hard times with funds diminishing. He must marry a heiress to support his five sisters' dowries and the crumbling of his estate. Westbury employs wallflower, Viola Beaton as his sisters' music teacher. She's strong, tender hearted, and very passionate. This is the 3rd installment to the series. It can be read as a standalone, I believe. I have not read the other two books.
This is a well written story! West and Viola make an excellent pair. West is like fire (wicked, devilish, arrogant) whereas Viola is like water (cool, angelic, strongheaded). They have great banter and build up. I am shocked that I enjoyed it so much since it's a slow burn book. It takes a while for West to make a move due to Viola being in his employed but they both show inner thoughts of wanting each other... badly. The whole book kept me interested and entertained.
One of my favorites lines: "You truly are the most maddeningly arrogant rogue in London. I have to kiss you now, don't I, if only to prove to you that not every woman succumbs to your charm."
Thanks to Netgalley and it's publisher for a free copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.
He was sin incarnate. Dangerously depraved. Wicked Westbury.
Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury is London's most wicked rogue with gambling, women, and booze. He's fallen on hard times with funds diminishing. He must marry a heiress to support his five sisters' dowries and the crumbling of his estate. Westbury employs wallflower, Viola Beaton as his sisters' music teacher. She's strong, tender hearted, and very passionate. This is the 3rd installment to the series. It can be read as a standalone, I believe. I have not read the other two books.
This is a well written story! West and Viola make an excellent pair. West is like fire (wicked, devilish, arrogant) whereas Viola is like water (cool, angelic, strongheaded). They have great banter and build up. I am shocked that I enjoyed it so much since it's a slow burn book. It takes a while for West to make a move due to Viola being in his employed but they both show inner thoughts of wanting each other... badly. The whole book kept me interested and entertained.
One of my favorites lines: "You truly are the most maddeningly arrogant rogue in London. I have to kiss you now, don't I, if only to prove to you that not every woman succumbs to your charm."
Thanks to Netgalley and it's publisher for a free copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.
September 27, 2022
4 Stars! This is book 3 in the ‘Wallflowers vs Rogues’ series & can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed West & Viola’s story. I didn’t like West at the beginning, he was a total ‘Richard’, although I did feel bad for him when he was a kid with a mean & abusive father. Viola is such a sunny and kind person and is the glue that holds Wests’ sister and staff together. I love seeing how both West & Viola grow throughout the book. Viola is stronger than I originally thought. At first I was thinking she would be a weak female main character but after West truly ticks her off, she surprised me & I loved it! Strong female romances are my favorite! A few twists in the story that I didn’t see coming! I’d love to know what happens with Wests’ sisters and Miss.Chandler & Ian!
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
July 13, 2024
Read: 7/14/24
3 stars
This just wasn't my type of book! The characters were too modern, and the recurring characters from other books just confused me. I felt like I was dropped in the middle of a story that was contemporary but in a historical setting.
The story had its moments. I liked the MC! Who doesn't like the humorous bad boy and the sweet h who tries to reform him? They were a great couple! I enjoyed the ending, but it took a while to embrace modern storytelling.
I'm glad I tried the story, but I won't be continuing the series anytime soon!
3 stars
This just wasn't my type of book! The characters were too modern, and the recurring characters from other books just confused me. I felt like I was dropped in the middle of a story that was contemporary but in a historical setting.
The story had its moments. I liked the MC! Who doesn't like the humorous bad boy and the sweet h who tries to reform him? They were a great couple! I enjoyed the ending, but it took a while to embrace modern storytelling.
I'm glad I tried the story, but I won't be continuing the series anytime soon!
February 3, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up.
Brandon Delamar, the Duke of Westbury, must finally admit that his profligate ways have caught up to him. He’s gambled away all of his funds and with five younger sisters lacking dowries and needing to find husbands, he has no choice but to find a wealthy heiress to marry.
Viola Beaton is certainly not an heiress but her sunny disposition brightens the ducal household as she gives his sisters music lessons and generally makes their lives run more smoothly. She’s come to love the girls but unfortunately for her, Viola has also been unable to squelch her deeper feelings for the duke. He makes her dream impossible futures for them and compose the most outrageous sonatas, but she continues to remind herself that there can never be anything between them.
When West declares his intention to find a bride for himself and husbands for his sisters as well, Viola stands up to him to try to persuade him not to curtail what little freedom they might expect from their first seasons. He comes up with a scandalous bargain for her: he’ll allow his sisters their Season, but Viola must serve as their chaperone and keep them from causing any scandals. That’s all well and good for his sisters, but it’s soon clear that West and Viola themselves are the most likely ones to cause a scandal.
Viola has always been a helpful, supportive friend and confidante to those around her, but it has left her feeling a bit like a supporting character in her own life and I could relate to that sentiment so much. Thanks to that resonance, I adored seeing Viola come into her own, go after what she wanted, and refuse to settle for less than love. She helped West want to be better, to grow and face the pain he’d been carrying around for years, realizing that his father’s anger and bitterness still had a hold on him from the grave and that he didn’t need to live that way anymore. West wanted to be worthy of Viola and that made this a reformed rake story I could get behind, especially because she already loved him regardless and only wanted him to stop wasting his life on someone else’s misery. I’m not usually a big fan of wastrel heroes, but West had a good heart and he truly wanted to do the right thing, but he’d been told he was tainted and worthless for so long that he just needed someone to believe in him and not give up on him. Viola was that person for him and that made the trope work for me.
In turn, West believed in Viola and encouraged her to take credit for her musical compositions and I enjoyed seeing them support one another and grow closer in this aspect as something that bonded them outside of just her relationship with his sisters, though that was also charming. I loved seeing West pursue Viola after her believing for so long that her feelings were unrequited. West also gets credit for the most unique, outrageous, and surprisingly sweet grand romantic gesture. The last third or so of the book was crazy sauce but by then I was sold and was totally here for it. This was a story I greatly enjoyed, probably my favorite of the series so far, and I look forward to this author’s next work.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Brandon Delamar, the Duke of Westbury, must finally admit that his profligate ways have caught up to him. He’s gambled away all of his funds and with five younger sisters lacking dowries and needing to find husbands, he has no choice but to find a wealthy heiress to marry.
Viola Beaton is certainly not an heiress but her sunny disposition brightens the ducal household as she gives his sisters music lessons and generally makes their lives run more smoothly. She’s come to love the girls but unfortunately for her, Viola has also been unable to squelch her deeper feelings for the duke. He makes her dream impossible futures for them and compose the most outrageous sonatas, but she continues to remind herself that there can never be anything between them.
When West declares his intention to find a bride for himself and husbands for his sisters as well, Viola stands up to him to try to persuade him not to curtail what little freedom they might expect from their first seasons. He comes up with a scandalous bargain for her: he’ll allow his sisters their Season, but Viola must serve as their chaperone and keep them from causing any scandals. That’s all well and good for his sisters, but it’s soon clear that West and Viola themselves are the most likely ones to cause a scandal.
Viola has always been a helpful, supportive friend and confidante to those around her, but it has left her feeling a bit like a supporting character in her own life and I could relate to that sentiment so much. Thanks to that resonance, I adored seeing Viola come into her own, go after what she wanted, and refuse to settle for less than love. She helped West want to be better, to grow and face the pain he’d been carrying around for years, realizing that his father’s anger and bitterness still had a hold on him from the grave and that he didn’t need to live that way anymore. West wanted to be worthy of Viola and that made this a reformed rake story I could get behind, especially because she already loved him regardless and only wanted him to stop wasting his life on someone else’s misery. I’m not usually a big fan of wastrel heroes, but West had a good heart and he truly wanted to do the right thing, but he’d been told he was tainted and worthless for so long that he just needed someone to believe in him and not give up on him. Viola was that person for him and that made the trope work for me.
In turn, West believed in Viola and encouraged her to take credit for her musical compositions and I enjoyed seeing them support one another and grow closer in this aspect as something that bonded them outside of just her relationship with his sisters, though that was also charming. I loved seeing West pursue Viola after her believing for so long that her feelings were unrequited. West also gets credit for the most unique, outrageous, and surprisingly sweet grand romantic gesture. The last third or so of the book was crazy sauce but by then I was sold and was totally here for it. This was a story I greatly enjoyed, probably my favorite of the series so far, and I look forward to this author’s next work.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
September 12, 2022
I absolutely adored this novel, I adore Lenora Bell and the Wallflower vs. Rogue series! Bell's third installment in this series, sparkles with wit and charm and burns with sensuality. Bell's writing is wonderful and brings to life this delightful romance and promises lot's of more delight to come from this series! I think this series gets better and better with each installment and Bell is doing a fantastic job bringing to life a variety of characters who are well rounded and strong. If you love watching a hero discover love and heroine finding her true inner strength, this is the novel for you!
Viola is a music instructor to a rakish duke's sisters. She is steadfast, and full of charm, but she ofter feel like the side character in her own story. She has secretly be harboring a crush for the duke, but she knows that it can never be, because he is in need of an heiress. Brandan, the duke, was scarred by a dark secret in his youth, and has lived a carefree life of drinking and gambling. But now that his sisters need to make advantageous matches, he knows he must put his life back on the straight and narrow.
I was so charmed and taken by Viola as the heroine, she is smart, she is an artist, she is strong, she is optimistic, she quietly stays in her place until she knows she must stand up for herself and the people she cares about. I love that she is able to find her strength and stand up to Brandan in many moments that help not only her but the people she cares most about. I loved Brandan as our hero, he is fun and lighthearted on the surface but deep down he feels deeply and cares strongly. I love watching Viola and Brandon's relationship grow from friendly to true friends. I love that Brandan begins to see Viola for who she truly is, I love that he is proud of her talent and I love that he encourages her to embrace her brilliance. I love that Viola and Brandan are both strong and capable on their own, but together they are dynamite and bold. This friends to lovers romance is carefully built through trust and understanding and a steady building of sensuality. And while this romance is a bit of a slow burn it is well worth the wait when these two explode passionately together. Bell does a beautiful job building a foundation for them to develop deep feelings, and giving Brandan the insight to know that he will not settle for anything less than Viola. Viola also learns her true value and will not settle for less than what she truly deserves as well.
If you love a wallflower and a rake, you will love this novel! This is an absolutely must read for any historical romance lover!
Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Viola is a music instructor to a rakish duke's sisters. She is steadfast, and full of charm, but she ofter feel like the side character in her own story. She has secretly be harboring a crush for the duke, but she knows that it can never be, because he is in need of an heiress. Brandan, the duke, was scarred by a dark secret in his youth, and has lived a carefree life of drinking and gambling. But now that his sisters need to make advantageous matches, he knows he must put his life back on the straight and narrow.
I was so charmed and taken by Viola as the heroine, she is smart, she is an artist, she is strong, she is optimistic, she quietly stays in her place until she knows she must stand up for herself and the people she cares about. I love that she is able to find her strength and stand up to Brandan in many moments that help not only her but the people she cares most about. I loved Brandan as our hero, he is fun and lighthearted on the surface but deep down he feels deeply and cares strongly. I love watching Viola and Brandon's relationship grow from friendly to true friends. I love that Brandan begins to see Viola for who she truly is, I love that he is proud of her talent and I love that he encourages her to embrace her brilliance. I love that Viola and Brandan are both strong and capable on their own, but together they are dynamite and bold. This friends to lovers romance is carefully built through trust and understanding and a steady building of sensuality. And while this romance is a bit of a slow burn it is well worth the wait when these two explode passionately together. Bell does a beautiful job building a foundation for them to develop deep feelings, and giving Brandan the insight to know that he will not settle for anything less than Viola. Viola also learns her true value and will not settle for less than what she truly deserves as well.
If you love a wallflower and a rake, you will love this novel! This is an absolutely must read for any historical romance lover!
Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 28, 2023
It was just so-so. 😆
October 11, 2022
He was a fallen angel on the prowl, halo of golden hair and the devil glinting in his eyes. He was wicked, he was trouble, and he was beautiful. And betrothed.
4 stars!
I enjoyed the beginning of this novel at first--when the young and innocent love blooming between West and Viola is still sweet and forbidden--however, I quickly grew impatient with just how slow burn the romance is between them. There was very little action happening in the first half as well, leaving me hoping for a spicy romance that took too long to happen in my opinion. Overall, it wasn't bad, but I finished wishing for something more.
Tropes: forbidden love, wallflower heroine, down-on-his-luck hero, secret pining, SLOW BURN, boss/employee, hero betrothed to another, class difference
*ARC provided by Netgalley, and I voluntarily reviewed it*
August 8, 2022
Duke Most Wicked is the third in the Wallflowers vs. Rogues series by Lenora Bell. I’ve enjoyed both of the previous books in the series. And looked forward to this adventure. Brandan Delamar is the Duke of Westbury and loves being a wastrel. He has drunk and gambled away most of his inheritance and his five sisters dowries. Only when he realizes his actions are stopping his sisters from making suitable matches does he realize he must do something. He decides to marry an heiress but that means he must reform. Viola Beaton is the music instructor to the dukes sisters. He doesn’t realize till after she is gone that she is the peacemaker in his household between siblings and his staff. She agrees to return to his employment if he allows his sisters the season they were looking forward to experiencing.
There is a lot of silliness in this story. Brandan is over the top in his reaction to the problems he caused. To me one of the flaws of the story is that he makes no effort to improve his situation other than to seek a wealthy bride. Even when he has attraction for Viola he still plans to marry for money. I also have issues with the differences in their stations. Not only is Viola not titled she is his employee. So him teasing and provoking her to be in his bedroom late at night borders on sexual harassment other than for the lighter tone of the story. So while I am rooting for Viola I didn’t find him endearing just because he is handsome.
I will still happily look for future books from the author. This isn’t a bad historical romance I just enjoyed previous books from the author more. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
There is a lot of silliness in this story. Brandan is over the top in his reaction to the problems he caused. To me one of the flaws of the story is that he makes no effort to improve his situation other than to seek a wealthy bride. Even when he has attraction for Viola he still plans to marry for money. I also have issues with the differences in their stations. Not only is Viola not titled she is his employee. So him teasing and provoking her to be in his bedroom late at night borders on sexual harassment other than for the lighter tone of the story. So while I am rooting for Viola I didn’t find him endearing just because he is handsome.
I will still happily look for future books from the author. This isn’t a bad historical romance I just enjoyed previous books from the author more. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2023
Sometimes we really do want to be misunderstood...
He doesn't believe in love and she dreams of finding her own.
Brandan Delamar, the Duke of Westbury, has carefully cultivated his reputation as a profligate scoundrel and womanizer. He is determined to defiantly live up to the wastrel moniker bestowed on him by his father.
But now the coffers are nearly empty, and he has been so successful in cementing his scandalous reputation, it's likely his sisters will bear the brunt of it as well. They must marry, and without a sterling family reputation, or at least one that is redeemable, they may have to live their lives as spinsters. The only solution is for the wicked duke of Westbury to pull an heiress out of a hat - one who is beyond reproach and will rescue the family fortune.
The only problem with this plan is that the Duke can't keep his gaze from straying to his sisters' lovely, impoverished music instructor, Viola Beaton. But Viola has secrets of her own that she can't afford to jeopardize with a liaison. Even though she's been plagued with dreams of Brandan from their first meeting, she knows she's not what he needs to ensure the security and wellbeing of his sisters.
Some of the things I love about this book:
1. The hero's contrition is believable and his redemption arc evolves because he faces his inner demons of self-doubt.
2. The heroine blossoms under the hero's attention, and his adulation convinces her to pursue her own dreams - regardless of the consequences to her reputation.
3. A villain who reminded me of Wickham - I loved to loathe him!
4. "Touch her again and I'll rearrange your face."
Read this if you need a swoon-filled afternoon full of sweetness and surrender...
Recommended for fans of Lisa Kleypas' Wallflower series.
He doesn't believe in love and she dreams of finding her own.
Brandan Delamar, the Duke of Westbury, has carefully cultivated his reputation as a profligate scoundrel and womanizer. He is determined to defiantly live up to the wastrel moniker bestowed on him by his father.
But now the coffers are nearly empty, and he has been so successful in cementing his scandalous reputation, it's likely his sisters will bear the brunt of it as well. They must marry, and without a sterling family reputation, or at least one that is redeemable, they may have to live their lives as spinsters. The only solution is for the wicked duke of Westbury to pull an heiress out of a hat - one who is beyond reproach and will rescue the family fortune.
The only problem with this plan is that the Duke can't keep his gaze from straying to his sisters' lovely, impoverished music instructor, Viola Beaton. But Viola has secrets of her own that she can't afford to jeopardize with a liaison. Even though she's been plagued with dreams of Brandan from their first meeting, she knows she's not what he needs to ensure the security and wellbeing of his sisters.
Some of the things I love about this book:
1. The hero's contrition is believable and his redemption arc evolves because he faces his inner demons of self-doubt.
2. The heroine blossoms under the hero's attention, and his adulation convinces her to pursue her own dreams - regardless of the consequences to her reputation.
3. A villain who reminded me of Wickham - I loved to loathe him!
4. "Touch her again and I'll rearrange your face."
Read this if you need a swoon-filled afternoon full of sweetness and surrender...
Recommended for fans of Lisa Kleypas' Wallflower series.
June 17, 2022
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own"
I just started reading Lenora Bell's books the ones that I I have enjoyed reading them. Duke Most Wicked was another great read I didn't want to put it down love these characters that will always stay with me 5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review
Happy Reading Lisa 📚
I just started reading Lenora Bell's books the ones that I I have enjoyed reading them. Duke Most Wicked was another great read I didn't want to put it down love these characters that will always stay with me 5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review
Happy Reading Lisa 📚
November 8, 2022
well, this was disappointing because I expected so much more from this book especially as we met the heroine early in the series...
2,5 stars
2,5 stars
August 30, 2022
Brandan and Viola are truly meant to be together. Known to his friends as West, Brandan is truly a scoundrel.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a wicked duke who has gambled away his fortune must be in want of an heiress.
Scarred by a dark secret, Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, must concede his misdeeds have finally caught up with him. With five younger sisters to support, he must marry for money.
Sunny and steadfast, Viola Beaton is no heiress. As music instructor to the duke’s sisters, she’s developed a genuine affection for the bright young ladies. Unfortunately, she’s also developed a forbidden passion for her wildly attractive employer.
It must be the way he inspires her to compose sonatas about moonlight and kisses. Or how his gaze smolders and lingers on her skin. Or because he makes her heart whisper impossible things.
When Westbury decrees that he’ll choose not only a bride, but grooms for his sisters, Viola can’t allow him to curtail their freedom. She strikes a bargain: if he allows his sisters to attend the Season, Viola will chaperone them and keep them safe from scandal.
Only…what if Viola and the duke are the ones most likely to cause a scandal?
Lenora Bell has written another good romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a wicked duke who has gambled away his fortune must be in want of an heiress.
Scarred by a dark secret, Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, must concede his misdeeds have finally caught up with him. With five younger sisters to support, he must marry for money.
Sunny and steadfast, Viola Beaton is no heiress. As music instructor to the duke’s sisters, she’s developed a genuine affection for the bright young ladies. Unfortunately, she’s also developed a forbidden passion for her wildly attractive employer.
It must be the way he inspires her to compose sonatas about moonlight and kisses. Or how his gaze smolders and lingers on her skin. Or because he makes her heart whisper impossible things.
When Westbury decrees that he’ll choose not only a bride, but grooms for his sisters, Viola can’t allow him to curtail their freedom. She strikes a bargain: if he allows his sisters to attend the Season, Viola will chaperone them and keep them safe from scandal.
Only…what if Viola and the duke are the ones most likely to cause a scandal?
Lenora Bell has written another good romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
May 30, 2022
I will admit I never really love a Lenora Bell - I think her books are often unforgivably cheesy, and the writing often feels like a self-congratulatory "aren't I so funny?" when I... don't think so. But this book is honestly horrific. Maybe if I hadn't read it in this exact moment it'd be 2 stars and not 1 but here we are.
Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, has been doing his damndest to keep his dead father rolling in his grave with such frequency that the corpse has likely created a small weather pattern in the graveyard in which he is buried due to air displacement. He's successfully gambled away his entire fortune, including his five younger sisters' dowries, which he feels no shame about until he overhears a potential suitor for one of them saying she'd only be suitable as a mistress, since she has no money to offer. The idea of his sisters forced to "descend" into sex work is what sparks his realization that he must marry for money, which he promptly sets about doing.
In a day where childbearing bodies are increasingly and increasingly regulated, it's unconscionable to me that you would write a romance novel whose plot hinges on the hero destroying his sisters' chances at happy, loving, secure, and safe marriages by gambling away their dowries to spite a dead man. It's ridiculous. And then, the heroine, who is a lowly music tutor and not the heiress he seeks, is forced to publish her own work under her father's name because he cannot be arsed to finish the symphony he's been working on for years, content to let her do the commissions he sees as inferior for rent and bread money while the patriarchy prevents her from working under her own name.
Of course, an 11th hour secret reveal means that the hero's fortunes are restored with no work on his part, and he's free to marry our heroine. After so dutifully destroying his sisters' futures, he gets to swoop in and reveal that everything is fine with literally no work on his part. Incredible.
This book may be the death knell in my relationship with Lenora Bell. I cannot believe her agent and editor took a look at her proposed plot, took a look at the state of the world, and said "this'll go over well!".
Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the ARC.
Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, has been doing his damndest to keep his dead father rolling in his grave with such frequency that the corpse has likely created a small weather pattern in the graveyard in which he is buried due to air displacement. He's successfully gambled away his entire fortune, including his five younger sisters' dowries, which he feels no shame about until he overhears a potential suitor for one of them saying she'd only be suitable as a mistress, since she has no money to offer. The idea of his sisters forced to "descend" into sex work is what sparks his realization that he must marry for money, which he promptly sets about doing.
In a day where childbearing bodies are increasingly and increasingly regulated, it's unconscionable to me that you would write a romance novel whose plot hinges on the hero destroying his sisters' chances at happy, loving, secure, and safe marriages by gambling away their dowries to spite a dead man. It's ridiculous. And then, the heroine, who is a lowly music tutor and not the heiress he seeks, is forced to publish her own work under her father's name because he cannot be arsed to finish the symphony he's been working on for years, content to let her do the commissions he sees as inferior for rent and bread money while the patriarchy prevents her from working under her own name.
Of course, an 11th hour secret reveal means that the hero's fortunes are restored with no work on his part, and he's free to marry our heroine. After so dutifully destroying his sisters' futures, he gets to swoop in and reveal that everything is fine with literally no work on his part. Incredible.
This book may be the death knell in my relationship with Lenora Bell. I cannot believe her agent and editor took a look at her proposed plot, took a look at the state of the world, and said "this'll go over well!".
Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the ARC.
September 5, 2022
I'm thinking--boss/employee interclass rake romance, yes?
The Duke of Westbury is in a tight spot. He's gambled away the family fortune (because of his Secret Pain) and ruined his reputation, which has affected the marital prospects of his younger sisters. His only option is to find a rich heiress to marry, clean up his act, and ensure that his sisters have good husbands as soon as possible. Cue Viola, his girls' quiet music teacher, whom West assumes will be able to shepherd them into high society. The problem? Viola has long nursed an unsaid passion for West, which--coupled with his realization that she is in fact QUITE fuckable--could ensure a scandal he won't be able to come back from.
If you've never seen the early 2000s era Hugh Grant/Sandra Bullock romcom Two Weeks Notice... I don't know if you should. Parts of it haven't aged well, most of a cameo from Donald Trump (I mean, to be fair, who the fuck could've known). But what I do remember enjoying so much was the "hapless slutty boss/put-upon employee" dynamic. Is it politically correct? Who's to say. Is it fun as hell? Yes.
And to me, Duke Most Wicked gives you that without the horrible Trump cameo. West is something of a clueless rake, and it is delightful. He basically wakes up one day and is like "I have no money and everyone hates me--how did this happen?" When it's really not that hard to think of how this happened. He'll literally put his dukes up and get ready to fight at the slightest provocation, and everyone will be like "huh, weird". He's just hilariously slutty and fun and ridiculous, and I enjoyed him immensely.
Viola is a quieter heroine, in the way that she kind of has to be to contrast with West--but she's also deeply horny. She's been lusting after her boss for quite some time before our story begins, and it is certainly mutual once she comes into focus for him... But he can't act on his feelings, as he's worried about how a boss/employee affair (which can't go anywhere, as he must marry for money) will look and affect his sisters' standing. There's a lot of "I don't want to want you yet I do" in this book, and I was not mad at it. Viola knows that she shouldn't fall for West's seductions... and West knows he shouldn't be seducing her. But--oh well!
What I also found interesting was the presence of female friendship. There's a really cute scene wherein Viola and her friends (all of whom I imagine are past heroines or future heroines--this is my first Lenora Bell, so I'm not sure) sat and giggled and speculated about what the fuck he was doing to her in a prior scene. It was just very wholesome. Nobody made Viola feel bad for "allowing liberties", and no one acted like a total clueless idiot. I loved the sex positivity.
The ending of the book is somewhat convenient and easy, and I wish there would've been a bit more angst on that front... But I can't complain too much. It's a funny, cozy romance that does in fact involve piano sex. Which is like, the promise of the premise. I'll definitely be checking out more from Lenora Bell.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
The Duke of Westbury is in a tight spot. He's gambled away the family fortune (because of his Secret Pain) and ruined his reputation, which has affected the marital prospects of his younger sisters. His only option is to find a rich heiress to marry, clean up his act, and ensure that his sisters have good husbands as soon as possible. Cue Viola, his girls' quiet music teacher, whom West assumes will be able to shepherd them into high society. The problem? Viola has long nursed an unsaid passion for West, which--coupled with his realization that she is in fact QUITE fuckable--could ensure a scandal he won't be able to come back from.
If you've never seen the early 2000s era Hugh Grant/Sandra Bullock romcom Two Weeks Notice... I don't know if you should. Parts of it haven't aged well, most of a cameo from Donald Trump (I mean, to be fair, who the fuck could've known). But what I do remember enjoying so much was the "hapless slutty boss/put-upon employee" dynamic. Is it politically correct? Who's to say. Is it fun as hell? Yes.
And to me, Duke Most Wicked gives you that without the horrible Trump cameo. West is something of a clueless rake, and it is delightful. He basically wakes up one day and is like "I have no money and everyone hates me--how did this happen?" When it's really not that hard to think of how this happened. He'll literally put his dukes up and get ready to fight at the slightest provocation, and everyone will be like "huh, weird". He's just hilariously slutty and fun and ridiculous, and I enjoyed him immensely.
Viola is a quieter heroine, in the way that she kind of has to be to contrast with West--but she's also deeply horny. She's been lusting after her boss for quite some time before our story begins, and it is certainly mutual once she comes into focus for him... But he can't act on his feelings, as he's worried about how a boss/employee affair (which can't go anywhere, as he must marry for money) will look and affect his sisters' standing. There's a lot of "I don't want to want you yet I do" in this book, and I was not mad at it. Viola knows that she shouldn't fall for West's seductions... and West knows he shouldn't be seducing her. But--oh well!
What I also found interesting was the presence of female friendship. There's a really cute scene wherein Viola and her friends (all of whom I imagine are past heroines or future heroines--this is my first Lenora Bell, so I'm not sure) sat and giggled and speculated about what the fuck he was doing to her in a prior scene. It was just very wholesome. Nobody made Viola feel bad for "allowing liberties", and no one acted like a total clueless idiot. I loved the sex positivity.
The ending of the book is somewhat convenient and easy, and I wish there would've been a bit more angst on that front... But I can't complain too much. It's a funny, cozy romance that does in fact involve piano sex. Which is like, the promise of the premise. I'll definitely be checking out more from Lenora Bell.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
January 22, 2023
This was so good! So so much better than I expected!! I LOVED West and him and viola together were 😍😍😩 amazing plot… this just might be another one of my favorite historicals of ALL time… amazing!
5 stars 🌟
5 stars 🌟
September 5, 2022
Another fun installment in Lenora Bell's world. I'd been eager to get Viola and West's story for a while, after the glimpses of them in earlier books, and this did not disappoint. I read it quickly and with a smile on my face. I can get a bit twitchy with self-loathing heroes, but fortunately West spent enough time being sweet to Viola and his sisters and actively deciding/working to improve himself that I never felt bogged down in his problems. I liked that his journey was gradual throughout the book as well, rather than a sudden change at the end. And I loved seeing Viola learn to stand up for herself and go after what she wanted. The sisters were all very funny, and I especially liked bug-loving Bernadette and cricket-playing Betsy. I would gladly read books about them. There was a bit of "evil other woman" with the American fiancee at the beginning, but fortunately it didn't drag out and she had some hints of more to her character. Fans of the series and of light Regency romance will likely enjoy this.
July 3, 2022
I laughed, I cried, this book was fantastic and had all the elements I love in my HR. A wildly, wicked duke who really has a heart of gold. An intrepid wallflower heroine who doesn't know her own worth but loves all around her. The sisters were a lovely addition to this wonderful family.
I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
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