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The Byronic Book Club #3
Tall, Duke, and Scandalous
This bluestocking would do almost anything to save her reputation and her grandfather's legacy…even marry a scandalous duke. No-nonsense Jane Delaney divides her time between her grandfather's beloved bookstore and writing newspaper columns, determined to overcome a past that's left her with scars on her face and in her heart. But when the store ends up in unexpected financial jeopardy and Jane's secrets are threatened by a mysterious blackmailer, she finds herself in desperate need of money. All seems lost until a temptation like no other presents itself... Christopher Marsden is the new rakish Duke of Roxby…and someone wants him dead. The problem is, he has no idea who or why. Following a vicious attack, he's acquired a rare affliction where he can no longer recognize faces. But when he catches Miss Delaney attempting to steal a priceless book from his library, Christopher can tell her apart from the rest. Her scarred beauty stands out like a beacon, and he doesn't want to let her go. So he offers her an outrageous the money she needs in exchange for a marriage of convenience and her help in catching his would-be killer. As passion flares between the two unlikely newlyweds, dangerous truths are exposed and hidden enemies poise to strike. Can these two damaged souls survive long enough to find love?
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 23, 2023
42 people are currently reading
1015 people want to read
About the author
Amy Rose Bennett
36 books603 followersAmy Rose Bennett is an award-winning Australian author who has a passion for penning emotion-packed historical romances and more recently, historical rom-coms with a dash of fantasy. A former speech pathologist, Amy is happily married to her very own romantic hero and has two lovely, exceedingly accomplished adult daughters. When she’s not creating stories, Amy loves to cook up a storm in the kitchen, lose herself in a good book, and when she can afford it, travel to all the places she writes about.
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July 22, 2023
Tall, Duke, and Scandalous
by Amy Rose Bennett is a historical romance set largely in London in 1859. Jane Delaney spends her time at her grandfather’s bookstore, writing newspaper columns, and being at the disposal of her mother, stepsister, and brother. When the bookstore is in financial trouble and Jane is being threatened by a blackmailer, she finds herself tempted to do something out of character.
Christopher Marsden inherited the title Duke of Roxby less than a year ago. Someone wants him dead, but he doesn’t know who or why. After the first attack, he has a problem recognizing faces, making it even more difficult to know who he can trust. Jane and Christopher meet and agree to help each other.
Jane is sensible, practical, intelligent, devoted to her family, and open-minded. Christopher is known to be a scoundrel and arrogant. However, he can also be polite, gallant, and appreciate rare and expensive books. Their interpersonal dynamics added to the enjoyment of the novel. Some characters from the first two books in the series return near the end of the novel providing updates on their lives as well as becoming an integral part of the plot.
While the novel is somewhat predictable, I felt connected to the story and wanted Jane and Christopher to work through their issues. Will trust and love become a reality or not? Their dynamic was one of the most compelling aspects of the story. While some of the novel was a little over the top and the romance progressed rather quickly, I went with the flow and enjoyed it. There are several steamy scenes throughout the novel. Multiple threads woven into the story include attempted murder, blackmail, trust, pride, doubts, fears, secrets, guilt, loyalty, and much more.
Overall, this was an entertaining and fun novel that kept me engaged throughout the book. Those who like historical romances will likely enjoy this novel. It can be read as a standalone. This is the third book in the Byronic Book Club series.
SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and Amy Rose Bennett provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for August 08, 2023.
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My 4 star review is coming soon.
Christopher Marsden inherited the title Duke of Roxby less than a year ago. Someone wants him dead, but he doesn’t know who or why. After the first attack, he has a problem recognizing faces, making it even more difficult to know who he can trust. Jane and Christopher meet and agree to help each other.
Jane is sensible, practical, intelligent, devoted to her family, and open-minded. Christopher is known to be a scoundrel and arrogant. However, he can also be polite, gallant, and appreciate rare and expensive books. Their interpersonal dynamics added to the enjoyment of the novel. Some characters from the first two books in the series return near the end of the novel providing updates on their lives as well as becoming an integral part of the plot.
While the novel is somewhat predictable, I felt connected to the story and wanted Jane and Christopher to work through their issues. Will trust and love become a reality or not? Their dynamic was one of the most compelling aspects of the story. While some of the novel was a little over the top and the romance progressed rather quickly, I went with the flow and enjoyed it. There are several steamy scenes throughout the novel. Multiple threads woven into the story include attempted murder, blackmail, trust, pride, doubts, fears, secrets, guilt, loyalty, and much more.
Overall, this was an entertaining and fun novel that kept me engaged throughout the book. Those who like historical romances will likely enjoy this novel. It can be read as a standalone. This is the third book in the Byronic Book Club series.
SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and Amy Rose Bennett provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for August 08, 2023.
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My 4 star review is coming soon.
May 7, 2023
I’ve come to the conclusion that Amy Rose Bennett books are just so much fun!! I’ve been loving this series and was so excited to see Tall, Duke, and Scandalous up on NetGalley. I found Bennett with Up All Night with a Good Duke and really appreciated the humor and Byronic bookclub, both of which were gift wrapped for us in book three.
Jane was so real. I respect any character who recognizes that they need money and are willing to marry a reclusive and impossibly sexy duke to secure the bag. She was incredibly self aware and I just really really liked her. I was definitely scared because I don’t like blackmail and mooching family members, and while the inclusion of those elements didn’t make this my favorite book, they were actually resolved in ways I didn’t mind.
As previously mentioned, Christopher Marsden, The Duke of Roxbury was reclusive and impossibly sexy. He also posses the singularly hottest name in literature??? I found his story to be so fascinating because not only are there mysterious murder attempts, but one of the attempts also led to Roxbury developing facial blindness. But of course, he can’t remember any face (even his own) after looking away EXCEPT Jane’s.
Both of their situations at the beginning lead to a wonderful meet-crime (??) in a library and pretty quickly to marriage of convenience. I really loved how Jane helped him in little ways to understand who he was talking to, since he couldn’t recognize faces and if that was found out his title could be stripped or worse.
The third act was…interesting. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t quite see his anger and hurt coming. I’m happy that he got to sit with his emotions and express them to Jane with her understanding, but something felt a bit off. Maybe it was resolved a bit too hastily? I guess by that time we were dealing with murder plots and blackmail, so I was a bit tired.
Overall, this one was a lot of fun. It wasn’t my favorite of the series, but it holds its own. The characters really spoke to me, even when the story got a bit bogged down or long. If Amy Rose Bennett writes it, I’ll definitely be reading it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶️🌶️.75*/5
*They got married pretty early, so the sex also started before 50%! There were a lot of scenes, but if I’m being super picky, a few could’ve been a bit longer and more detailed. They were still hot though, don’t get me wrong.
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
Jane was so real. I respect any character who recognizes that they need money and are willing to marry a reclusive and impossibly sexy duke to secure the bag. She was incredibly self aware and I just really really liked her. I was definitely scared because I don’t like blackmail and mooching family members, and while the inclusion of those elements didn’t make this my favorite book, they were actually resolved in ways I didn’t mind.
As previously mentioned, Christopher Marsden, The Duke of Roxbury was reclusive and impossibly sexy. He also posses the singularly hottest name in literature??? I found his story to be so fascinating because not only are there mysterious murder attempts, but one of the attempts also led to Roxbury developing facial blindness. But of course, he can’t remember any face (even his own) after looking away EXCEPT Jane’s.
Both of their situations at the beginning lead to a wonderful meet-crime (??) in a library and pretty quickly to marriage of convenience. I really loved how Jane helped him in little ways to understand who he was talking to, since he couldn’t recognize faces and if that was found out his title could be stripped or worse.
The third act was…interesting. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t quite see his anger and hurt coming. I’m happy that he got to sit with his emotions and express them to Jane with her understanding, but something felt a bit off. Maybe it was resolved a bit too hastily? I guess by that time we were dealing with murder plots and blackmail, so I was a bit tired.
Overall, this one was a lot of fun. It wasn’t my favorite of the series, but it holds its own. The characters really spoke to me, even when the story got a bit bogged down or long. If Amy Rose Bennett writes it, I’ll definitely be reading it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶️🌶️.75*/5
*They got married pretty early, so the sex also started before 50%! There were a lot of scenes, but if I’m being super picky, a few could’ve been a bit longer and more detailed. They were still hot though, don’t get me wrong.
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
August 7, 2023
What a fabulous story to end this series with, I could barely put this one down, I loved it so much I have been looking forward to Jane’s story although I am sorry to see the end of this series it has been fabulous.
We have met Jane in the previous two books in this series and I love her courage as she does what she can for woman after being jilted and badly hurt in an accident, Jane is left with a scar that people will always notice, but now with genuine worry over what her mother has done Jane needs to find a way to save her grandfather’s antiquarian bookstore, Delaney’s. What she needs is money and as fast as she can when opportunity strikes Jane finds herself in the library of the scandalous Duke of Roxby and what transpires from here will change her life.
Christopher Marsden, Duke of Roxby is causing major scandals amongst the ton, but when he discovers a beautiful woman in the early hours of the morning in his library an idea flits into his mind and soon he is offering Jane Delaney the opportunity to be his wife, there are reasons for this and one is that someone is trying to kill him and he needs help, it is an offer too good for Jane to refuse.
The instant they meet there is a fiery spark between them and both of them are in dire need of help, will they be able to help each other? The marriage of convenience has stipulations but after their wedding night will they ever be able to not need each other? They sizzle together and soon they are opening up to each and walls are breaking down.
I loved this one from start to finish, it is filled with lots of happenings as danger looms and love grows it is sensual and sizzling and a must read, Christopher is the perfect match for Jane, I loved the support he gives her for all that she is planning and how Jane is so caring and loving and of course catching up with Artemis and Lucy and their partners was so good what a team they make and the epilogue was perfect.
I have never been disappointed by one of Amy Rose Bennett’s story and this one I highly recommend.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
We have met Jane in the previous two books in this series and I love her courage as she does what she can for woman after being jilted and badly hurt in an accident, Jane is left with a scar that people will always notice, but now with genuine worry over what her mother has done Jane needs to find a way to save her grandfather’s antiquarian bookstore, Delaney’s. What she needs is money and as fast as she can when opportunity strikes Jane finds herself in the library of the scandalous Duke of Roxby and what transpires from here will change her life.
Christopher Marsden, Duke of Roxby is causing major scandals amongst the ton, but when he discovers a beautiful woman in the early hours of the morning in his library an idea flits into his mind and soon he is offering Jane Delaney the opportunity to be his wife, there are reasons for this and one is that someone is trying to kill him and he needs help, it is an offer too good for Jane to refuse.
The instant they meet there is a fiery spark between them and both of them are in dire need of help, will they be able to help each other? The marriage of convenience has stipulations but after their wedding night will they ever be able to not need each other? They sizzle together and soon they are opening up to each and walls are breaking down.
I loved this one from start to finish, it is filled with lots of happenings as danger looms and love grows it is sensual and sizzling and a must read, Christopher is the perfect match for Jane, I loved the support he gives her for all that she is planning and how Jane is so caring and loving and of course catching up with Artemis and Lucy and their partners was so good what a team they make and the epilogue was perfect.
I have never been disappointed by one of Amy Rose Bennett’s story and this one I highly recommend.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
November 10, 2023
This is the third book in the Byronic Bookclub series, and I had a great time reading all of them!
If you enjoy a good love story paired with an intriguing mystery the I highly suggest Tall, Duke, and Scandalous. Jane and Christopher, the Duke of Roxby, are amazing together, and their love scenes are scorching hot. Their relationship is sweet, and I enjoyed every moment leading up to the happily ever after. I also liked the mystery elements of the book very much.
This was an excellent ending to a wonderful series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
If you enjoy a good love story paired with an intriguing mystery the I highly suggest Tall, Duke, and Scandalous. Jane and Christopher, the Duke of Roxby, are amazing together, and their love scenes are scorching hot. Their relationship is sweet, and I enjoyed every moment leading up to the happily ever after. I also liked the mystery elements of the book very much.
This was an excellent ending to a wonderful series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
July 5, 2024
3.5 stars. RTC.
Love a romance where both MCs are likeable people. This was an adorable yet sexy marriage of convenience romance.
The plot: Christopher Marsden, Duke of Roxby, now has facial blindness after a recent attempt on his life. Enter Jane Delaney, who is trying to steal a valuable book in Christopher's library to settle her mother's gambling debt and save her grandfather's bookshop. Christopher catches her red handed but instead of having her arrested, he suggests they enter into a marriage of convenience: she can use the riches of being the Duchess of Roxby to pay off her mother's gambling debts and save her grandfather's book shop, while Jane can help Christopher by pointing out people during social gatherings (and also help him unmask the person who's trying to unalive him) and provide him with an heir *cue Let's Get It On.* There is no room for romantic feelings during this marriage of convenience! FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOUR SPOUSE IS NOT ALLOWED. Spoiler Alert: They obviously fail at not falling for each other.
What I liked about this book: While the whole "I can't tell my spouse I'm in love with them because reasons" thing can get old, I think it made sense in this book. Both Jane and Christopher have been hurt by former partners. Jane was hurt by her ex-fiancé when he abandoned her after she was scarred in a dogcart accident (a dogcart that HE was driving recklessly because he was drunk btw) Christopher was also dumped by an ex-fiancée, but she's decided that she's interested in him again because he's now a Duke. So yeah, with that in mind it makes since why Jane and Christopher are afraid to admit that they have feelings for each other even when I was yelling at my kindle for these adorable idiots to just USE THEIR WORDS.
I also liked that Jane and Christopher were immediately horny for each other. While I enjoy a slow burn, I loved that they were like "yes we're attracted to each other, and we are going to have a great time making an heir" I love that for them.
What I didn't like about this book: I'd forgotten that Amy Rose Bennett likes to throw all the things at a couple. While I appreciate that most of their obstacles were from outside forces....it got a little tiresome😒 In addition to someone trying to unalive Christopher, we have another person blackmailing Jane; Jane secretly writes educational pamphlets so young women know what to expect when they have "relations." The pamphlets teach women about how to avoid falling pregnant, how to protect themselves from getting STDs and how to enjoy sexual relations. There will be no "insert himself? insert himself WHERE?!?" moments on Jane's watch! Anyway, Jane's blackmailer is threatening to expose Jane to the masses unless Jane gives them a ton of money.
On top of the Christopher's life being in danger and Jane being blackmailed, we also had Christopher's annoying ex who could not TAKE A DAMN HINT.
VAGUE SPOILER BELOW
Bennett also likes to do this thing where everything is seemingly resolved only for someone to pop up at the last minute to try to unalive one or both of the MCs. It's usually resolved in a couple of pages and completely unnecessary. She did the same thing in Artemis' book so at least I knew it was coming, but I was still annoyed.
Overall, this was a sweet and steamy romance but not necessarily memorable.
CW: previous pregnancy loss, gun violence
Love a romance where both MCs are likeable people. This was an adorable yet sexy marriage of convenience romance.
The plot: Christopher Marsden, Duke of Roxby, now has facial blindness after a recent attempt on his life. Enter Jane Delaney, who is trying to steal a valuable book in Christopher's library to settle her mother's gambling debt and save her grandfather's bookshop. Christopher catches her red handed but instead of having her arrested, he suggests they enter into a marriage of convenience: she can use the riches of being the Duchess of Roxby to pay off her mother's gambling debts and save her grandfather's book shop, while Jane can help Christopher by pointing out people during social gatherings (and also help him unmask the person who's trying to unalive him) and provide him with an heir *cue Let's Get It On.* There is no room for romantic feelings during this marriage of convenience! FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOUR SPOUSE IS NOT ALLOWED. Spoiler Alert: They obviously fail at not falling for each other.
What I liked about this book: While the whole "I can't tell my spouse I'm in love with them because reasons" thing can get old, I think it made sense in this book. Both Jane and Christopher have been hurt by former partners. Jane was hurt by her ex-fiancé when he abandoned her after she was scarred in a dogcart accident (a dogcart that HE was driving recklessly because he was drunk btw) Christopher was also dumped by an ex-fiancée, but she's decided that she's interested in him again because he's now a Duke. So yeah, with that in mind it makes since why Jane and Christopher are afraid to admit that they have feelings for each other even when I was yelling at my kindle for these adorable idiots to just USE THEIR WORDS.
I also liked that Jane and Christopher were immediately horny for each other. While I enjoy a slow burn, I loved that they were like "yes we're attracted to each other, and we are going to have a great time making an heir" I love that for them.
What I didn't like about this book: I'd forgotten that Amy Rose Bennett likes to throw all the things at a couple. While I appreciate that most of their obstacles were from outside forces....it got a little tiresome😒 In addition to someone trying to unalive Christopher, we have another person blackmailing Jane; Jane secretly writes educational pamphlets so young women know what to expect when they have "relations." The pamphlets teach women about how to avoid falling pregnant, how to protect themselves from getting STDs and how to enjoy sexual relations. There will be no "insert himself? insert himself WHERE?!?" moments on Jane's watch! Anyway, Jane's blackmailer is threatening to expose Jane to the masses unless Jane gives them a ton of money.
On top of the Christopher's life being in danger and Jane being blackmailed, we also had Christopher's annoying ex who could not TAKE A DAMN HINT.
VAGUE SPOILER BELOW
Bennett also likes to do this thing where everything is seemingly resolved only for someone to pop up at the last minute to try to unalive one or both of the MCs. It's usually resolved in a couple of pages and completely unnecessary. She did the same thing in Artemis' book so at least I knew it was coming, but I was still annoyed.
Overall, this was a sweet and steamy romance but not necessarily memorable.
CW: previous pregnancy loss, gun violence
July 25, 2023
Desperate times call for desperate measures!
Miss Jane Delaney has money problems. Her mother is gambling and step-sister is being blackmailed. There’s a further desperation to do with ownership of her Grandfather’s bookshop which for Jane is heartbreaking
So when her mother and sister leave her at a masquerade to make her own way home at midnight through a fog (Yikes! Who does that? Unforgivable!) Jane hits upon a scheme.
The licentious Duke of Roxby’s door is open, there’s a raucous party happening, and if Jane could find out some juicy scandal she could sell it to her contact at the newspaper, The London Tatler.
It’s only later when she’s discovered by the Duke stealing a first edition book that Jane regrets her impulses. After all Jane knows he’ll never miss just one as he’s too busy leading a rakish life to know anything about books! Jane has misjudged badly! The Duke proposes a way Jane can get out of being charged with theft.
He has lost his memory and needs someone to be by his side to give him clues about people he’s supposed to know. Also someone’s attempting to kill him.
The story develops from here. Of course they fall in love with each other but both are to damaged to confess.
Of course their love making is blissful, varied and steamy. I was a little over it by the third or so time of lengthy descriptive prose. (Sometimes fade stage left is just fine!)
Still, this was a fitting conclusion to the stories of the three women who started the Byronic Book Club and I enjoyed the rather hilariously twisted, yet sadly at times, forlorn plot.
A Sourcebooks Casablanca ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Miss Jane Delaney has money problems. Her mother is gambling and step-sister is being blackmailed. There’s a further desperation to do with ownership of her Grandfather’s bookshop which for Jane is heartbreaking
So when her mother and sister leave her at a masquerade to make her own way home at midnight through a fog (Yikes! Who does that? Unforgivable!) Jane hits upon a scheme.
The licentious Duke of Roxby’s door is open, there’s a raucous party happening, and if Jane could find out some juicy scandal she could sell it to her contact at the newspaper, The London Tatler.
It’s only later when she’s discovered by the Duke stealing a first edition book that Jane regrets her impulses. After all Jane knows he’ll never miss just one as he’s too busy leading a rakish life to know anything about books! Jane has misjudged badly! The Duke proposes a way Jane can get out of being charged with theft.
He has lost his memory and needs someone to be by his side to give him clues about people he’s supposed to know. Also someone’s attempting to kill him.
The story develops from here. Of course they fall in love with each other but both are to damaged to confess.
Of course their love making is blissful, varied and steamy. I was a little over it by the third or so time of lengthy descriptive prose. (Sometimes fade stage left is just fine!)
Still, this was a fitting conclusion to the stories of the three women who started the Byronic Book Club and I enjoyed the rather hilariously twisted, yet sadly at times, forlorn plot.
A Sourcebooks Casablanca ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
August 8, 2023
Like our heroine, Jane who loves the Gothic novels of her period, I just love a Historical Romance novel with a hunky, tortured hero and a fisty heroine. The mystery/suspense element in "Tall, Duke, and Scandalous" is just the cherry on top of a perfect sundae. Jane is determined to live her life the way she wants but seems to me to be a bid naive in how she proposes to do that. Christoper has a real problem, but I didn't see how marriage to Jane was going to solve that. It was predictable that their marriage of convenience would turn out to be a true love match, especially with all the hot steamy sex scenes.
Jane Delaney at 29 is more or less on the shelf, heading for spinsterhood. She is the caretaker for her family. She is the chaperone for her young stepsister, sometime nanny for the brother's child and works with her grandfather at his bookstore, which is the only task she truly enjoys. After being scared, both literally and figuratively by love ten years ago her secret passion is to educate women on how to control their sexual destinies. Unfortunately, the journal has been stolen and she is being blackmailed. When her mother runs up a gambling debt that threatens her grandfather's bookstore, Jane is at a loss as to how to come up with all the money she needs to solve these problems.
Christopher Marsden, the Duke of Roxby, has held the title for less than a year and someone is out to kill him. The first attack left him with the inability to recognize and remember faces. He became a dissolute scoundrel hosting wild drunken parties in order to be shunned by polite society and hid both his problem and the attempts on his life.
When Jane and Christopher meet, she is in the process of solving her problem. Christopher is stunned that her face is the only face in almost a year that he can recognize and retain. They strike a bargain which benefits them both, but someone really wants Christopher dead and Jane is now in the crosshairs too.
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Jane Delaney at 29 is more or less on the shelf, heading for spinsterhood. She is the caretaker for her family. She is the chaperone for her young stepsister, sometime nanny for the brother's child and works with her grandfather at his bookstore, which is the only task she truly enjoys. After being scared, both literally and figuratively by love ten years ago her secret passion is to educate women on how to control their sexual destinies. Unfortunately, the journal has been stolen and she is being blackmailed. When her mother runs up a gambling debt that threatens her grandfather's bookstore, Jane is at a loss as to how to come up with all the money she needs to solve these problems.
Christopher Marsden, the Duke of Roxby, has held the title for less than a year and someone is out to kill him. The first attack left him with the inability to recognize and remember faces. He became a dissolute scoundrel hosting wild drunken parties in order to be shunned by polite society and hid both his problem and the attempts on his life.
When Jane and Christopher meet, she is in the process of solving her problem. Christopher is stunned that her face is the only face in almost a year that he can recognize and retain. They strike a bargain which benefits them both, but someone really wants Christopher dead and Jane is now in the crosshairs too.
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
July 18, 2023
The third book in the Byronic Book Club series pairs our final book club member, Jane, with the rakish Duke of Roxby. Jane is the granddaughter of a bookseller and stepdaughter of a rich merchant. She's now "on the shelf" after her former fiance broke off the engagement when she suffered a disfiguring accident.
But luckily (?) for her, Christopher (aforementioned duke) suffers from face blindness - except for Jane's face (probably because it's, y'know, disfigured). So even though they meet under less than ideal circumstances (she's trying to steal an obscenely expensive book from his library), he immediately proposes.
Look, the book is really fun, exceptionally steamy, and the disability rep is fascinating (it's always intriguing to think of how previous generations might deal with unfamiliar conditions). For us, though, it took A LOT of selective blindness (😉) to get over the meet cute. Why, for goodness sake, would he immediately propose to someone literally STEALING from him? And trust her with what he considers to be a debilitating secret? AND trust her to support him in his daily life?! We are used to suspending a little bit of disbelief (we are romance readers, after all!), but for some reason this was tougher than usual.
That said, if you're totally cool with the meet cute, then this is probably one you'll want to pick up. Seriously, the steam is really great, the relationship conflict made sense (although it was a bit frustrating), and the mystery was easily solved but enjoyably resolved. We're just warning you that we're not proposing to the next person to lay a hand on our books without permission.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
But luckily (?) for her, Christopher (aforementioned duke) suffers from face blindness - except for Jane's face (probably because it's, y'know, disfigured). So even though they meet under less than ideal circumstances (she's trying to steal an obscenely expensive book from his library), he immediately proposes.
Look, the book is really fun, exceptionally steamy, and the disability rep is fascinating (it's always intriguing to think of how previous generations might deal with unfamiliar conditions). For us, though, it took A LOT of selective blindness (😉) to get over the meet cute. Why, for goodness sake, would he immediately propose to someone literally STEALING from him? And trust her with what he considers to be a debilitating secret? AND trust her to support him in his daily life?! We are used to suspending a little bit of disbelief (we are romance readers, after all!), but for some reason this was tougher than usual.
That said, if you're totally cool with the meet cute, then this is probably one you'll want to pick up. Seriously, the steam is really great, the relationship conflict made sense (although it was a bit frustrating), and the mystery was easily solved but enjoyably resolved. We're just warning you that we're not proposing to the next person to lay a hand on our books without permission.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
July 9, 2023
When Miss Jane Delaney’s grandfather's beloved bookstore is in unexpected financial jeopardy, she has to find a way to save it. Christopher Marsden, Duke of Roxby, is trying to catch a killer. The problem is, he's acquired a rare affliction where he can no longer recognize faces…he can’t tell who’s after him or why. However, when Christopher catches Jane poised to steal a priceless book from his library, he can tell her apart from the rest. He offers her an outrageous proposal: the money she needs in exchange for a marriage of convenience and her help in catching his would-be killer.
This is the third book in the Byronic Book Club series. Certain events and character crossovers make me suggest reading this series in order.
I thought this book might bring more twists and turns; it was enjoyable but I thought it was a bit too predictable. I did like Jane and Christopher’s relationship though. I like that they married early in the story, there was plenty of steam, and they had realistic conversations about their feelings as secrets unraveled. I feel like I don’t see enough “I understand, I can forgive you, but I’m hurt and I need time” type talks and I really appreciated those here. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Tropes: Class Difference, Working Heroine, Jilted, Marriage of Convenience
Steam: 5
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
This is the third book in the Byronic Book Club series. Certain events and character crossovers make me suggest reading this series in order.
I thought this book might bring more twists and turns; it was enjoyable but I thought it was a bit too predictable. I did like Jane and Christopher’s relationship though. I like that they married early in the story, there was plenty of steam, and they had realistic conversations about their feelings as secrets unraveled. I feel like I don’t see enough “I understand, I can forgive you, but I’m hurt and I need time” type talks and I really appreciated those here. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Tropes: Class Difference, Working Heroine, Jilted, Marriage of Convenience
Steam: 5
* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
July 24, 2023
Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Byronic Book Club #3
Publication Date: 8/8/23
Period: Victorian London - 1859
Number of Pages: 408
I have enjoyed this series of books and I’m sorry to say that I believe this is the last book of the series. This book has a lovely story and a great epilogue – set 4 years in the future – that very nicely wraps up all of the characters and their HEAs. We have, of course, met the heroine in the previous book, so we already know her pretty well. The hero, on the other hand, is unknown to us and it was lovely to get to know him, his fears, his affliction, and to see the solution to the mystery around him. From the meet-cute to the HEA, this was a fun read.
Miss Jane Delaney is a lovely, intelligent young woman who believes, with good reason, that she will never marry because of the large scar on her face. Besides, she doesn’t trust men – because of what caused that large scar on her face. Since marriage isn’t an option, she’ll continue to help her beloved grandfather in his bookshop, Delaney’s, and she’ll work toward her goal of publishing a pamphlet on women’s health and well-being. Her life was progressing quite tranquilly – until she received the first blackmail demand. What, you ask, could anyone have to blackmail such a lovely lady? Well, it appears the pamphlet she wants to publish is quite explicit – quite scandalous – and her journal containing her notes (and her name) has been stolen. She has no money and she cannot (read that - will not) ask her friends or family for the money – so, where will she get it?
Christopher Marsden, the Duke of Roxby, displays a false front to the ton to cover up an affliction that would cause them to think he is mad. He’s not, but they would think anyone who couldn’t recognize friends, staff, or family, was mad. It all started when he was attacked and hit his head – now, even when he looks in the mirror, he sees a stranger. He throws debauched parties, acts vain and standoffish, and appears inebriated most of the time – all of which tends to keep polite society away – and if they do speak to him, they assign his lack of recognition to inebriation. He’s so tired of all of that – and – he needs to get on with discovering who is trying to murder him. What he needs is someone – someone he can truly trust – to be his eyes and let him know to whom he is speaking. ** Then, like magic, she quietly walks into his library one evening – totally intent upon stealing a very old, very valuable book – while he is sitting there in the dark watching her.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Christopher and Jane come to trust each other and believe in each other. Each had serious past hurts to overcome and they each had to learn to trust again. Both were truly likable characters and I was happy they found their HEA.
There were a couple of things that kept me from rating it higher. One was Jane’s inability to tell Christopher the whole truth. I understand the author needed a device to cause conflict, but it just annoyed me. Another thing was Christopher’s over-the-top reaction to Jane asking Jack O’Connor to help her catch the blackmailer. I get his insecurity; I just think it went much too far. Both of those felt a bit contrived to me rather than a natural flow.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and certainly recommend it. Their initial meeting in his library was one of my favorite things about the book and another was the entire epilogue. I love that it was set well out into the future with the families from all three books attending a gathering. The scenes were heartwarming and fed the romantic in me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Series: The Byronic Book Club #3
Publication Date: 8/8/23
Period: Victorian London - 1859
Number of Pages: 408
I have enjoyed this series of books and I’m sorry to say that I believe this is the last book of the series. This book has a lovely story and a great epilogue – set 4 years in the future – that very nicely wraps up all of the characters and their HEAs. We have, of course, met the heroine in the previous book, so we already know her pretty well. The hero, on the other hand, is unknown to us and it was lovely to get to know him, his fears, his affliction, and to see the solution to the mystery around him. From the meet-cute to the HEA, this was a fun read.
Miss Jane Delaney is a lovely, intelligent young woman who believes, with good reason, that she will never marry because of the large scar on her face. Besides, she doesn’t trust men – because of what caused that large scar on her face. Since marriage isn’t an option, she’ll continue to help her beloved grandfather in his bookshop, Delaney’s, and she’ll work toward her goal of publishing a pamphlet on women’s health and well-being. Her life was progressing quite tranquilly – until she received the first blackmail demand. What, you ask, could anyone have to blackmail such a lovely lady? Well, it appears the pamphlet she wants to publish is quite explicit – quite scandalous – and her journal containing her notes (and her name) has been stolen. She has no money and she cannot (read that - will not) ask her friends or family for the money – so, where will she get it?
Christopher Marsden, the Duke of Roxby, displays a false front to the ton to cover up an affliction that would cause them to think he is mad. He’s not, but they would think anyone who couldn’t recognize friends, staff, or family, was mad. It all started when he was attacked and hit his head – now, even when he looks in the mirror, he sees a stranger. He throws debauched parties, acts vain and standoffish, and appears inebriated most of the time – all of which tends to keep polite society away – and if they do speak to him, they assign his lack of recognition to inebriation. He’s so tired of all of that – and – he needs to get on with discovering who is trying to murder him. What he needs is someone – someone he can truly trust – to be his eyes and let him know to whom he is speaking. ** Then, like magic, she quietly walks into his library one evening – totally intent upon stealing a very old, very valuable book – while he is sitting there in the dark watching her.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Christopher and Jane come to trust each other and believe in each other. Each had serious past hurts to overcome and they each had to learn to trust again. Both were truly likable characters and I was happy they found their HEA.
There were a couple of things that kept me from rating it higher. One was Jane’s inability to tell Christopher the whole truth. I understand the author needed a device to cause conflict, but it just annoyed me. Another thing was Christopher’s over-the-top reaction to Jane asking Jack O’Connor to help her catch the blackmailer. I get his insecurity; I just think it went much too far. Both of those felt a bit contrived to me rather than a natural flow.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and certainly recommend it. Their initial meeting in his library was one of my favorite things about the book and another was the entire epilogue. I love that it was set well out into the future with the families from all three books attending a gathering. The scenes were heartwarming and fed the romantic in me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 26, 2025
Book #3 in The Byronic Book Club series. Marriage of convenience trope.
This 3rd and final book was a fun adventurous romance between a wallflower and a rake with many added extras. There’s Christopher Marsden, the Duke of Roxbys’ face blindness along with multi assassination attempts on him. And as for Miss Jane Delaney, her attempt at stealing a priceless book from the Dukes’ library (in desperation for money) was a hoot as he sat quietly in the corner watching her hide it beneath her skirt. Jane is being blackmailed and her grandfathers beloved bookstore is in financial jeopardy.. and Jane also has a facial scar, and with that, she has accepted being a spinster for the rest of her life. But even with Christophers face blindness he falls head over heels for Jane the moment they meet, even under her “attempt to steal from him” circumstance. For him, he can actually see Jane.. he finds her pretty, remarkable and he doesn’t want to let her go. He offers a proposal: the money she needs in exchange for a marriage of convenience and her help catching his would-be killer. These two are such a great match! Both have secrets that could cause their undoing, and both bring dueling mysteries to the forefront. It’s great drama is the most fun of ways! Loved it! 5 stars — Pub. 8/8/23
This 3rd and final book was a fun adventurous romance between a wallflower and a rake with many added extras. There’s Christopher Marsden, the Duke of Roxbys’ face blindness along with multi assassination attempts on him. And as for Miss Jane Delaney, her attempt at stealing a priceless book from the Dukes’ library (in desperation for money) was a hoot as he sat quietly in the corner watching her hide it beneath her skirt. Jane is being blackmailed and her grandfathers beloved bookstore is in financial jeopardy.. and Jane also has a facial scar, and with that, she has accepted being a spinster for the rest of her life. But even with Christophers face blindness he falls head over heels for Jane the moment they meet, even under her “attempt to steal from him” circumstance. For him, he can actually see Jane.. he finds her pretty, remarkable and he doesn’t want to let her go. He offers a proposal: the money she needs in exchange for a marriage of convenience and her help catching his would-be killer. These two are such a great match! Both have secrets that could cause their undoing, and both bring dueling mysteries to the forefront. It’s great drama is the most fun of ways! Loved it! 5 stars — Pub. 8/8/23
July 31, 2023
Yet another installment of the Byronic Book Club series!
Everything about this series sparkles. Amy Rose Bennett is breathing fresh life into the historical romance genre with every book in this series. I adored Jane & Christopher's story, and I was so happy with how the plot unspooled. Christopher's face-blindness gave insight into a rare disability, and Jane's story was similarly vulnerable.
In this book you will find:
- marriage of convenience
- debaucherous duke (who isn't so debaucherous)
- kissing (just to see!)
- "I need you"
- blackmail
- intrigue
- bookshelf bangs (heyo)
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Everything about this series sparkles. Amy Rose Bennett is breathing fresh life into the historical romance genre with every book in this series. I adored Jane & Christopher's story, and I was so happy with how the plot unspooled. Christopher's face-blindness gave insight into a rare disability, and Jane's story was similarly vulnerable.
In this book you will find:
- marriage of convenience
- debaucherous duke (who isn't so debaucherous)
- kissing (just to see!)
- "I need you"
- blackmail
- intrigue
- bookshelf bangs (heyo)
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
April 18, 2024
**Trigger Warnings Below**
Heroine: Jane Helena Delaney, 29. Works in her grandfather’s bookshop.
Hero: Major Christopher Marsden, age unknown. Duke of Roxby. Is face blind.
Date: 1859 (epilogue = 4 years later)
How they meet: Jane has been abandoned at a ball by her mother and stepsister. Walking home, Jane goes by Christopher’s house where a party is going on. She only knows him by his bad reputation and decides to enter the house to get some gossip she can sell to a newspaper (she needs the money because someone is blackmailing her and her mother is in debt). Jane gets lost in the house and ends up in the library. She notices the valuable, rare books there, and thinking the scandalous duke would have no interest in them, decides to take one to sell. She fails to notice Christopher is in the dark library and he catches her in the act of trying to smuggle the book out.
What happens: Christopher questions why she is taking the book, but lets her leave with the expectation she will return in the afternoon to discuss the matter further. Something about Jane captivates him and he tries to find out more about her before their meeting. At the meeting, Christopher is ready to make a deal with Jane. He suffered a head injury that has resulted in face blindness. While he is worried this condition will lead his peers to think him mad, it is even more dangerous because there have been several attempts on his life since taking the title. Jane’s face, which is scarred from an accident, is the only face Christopher has been able to remember. If she agrees to a marriage of convenience, she can be by his side to smooth the way socially for him. In exchange, he will pay off her mother’s debts, which were guaranteed by putting up the half of Jane’s beloved grandfather’s bookshop held by her mother. (He does not know about Jane’s blackmailer.) Part of the deal will also include providing an heir, but after that they can lead separate lives and he will continue to financially support her throughout her life. They discuss the matter, with Jane adding in some conditions of her own. Because of her scarred face, she had resigned herself to remaining a spinster, but the chance to have a baby is a strong pull for her. He gives her some time to consider, they get to know each other a bit more, and she agrees to the marriage. Despite hardly knowing one another, the two feel a sense of rightness about the match.
Trigger Warnings:
Verdict: I really enjoyed this book! The emotional journey of the hero and heroine was handled superbly. They had some similar traumatic events in their lives--both had been jilted years before and both suffered physical injuries with long-lasting impacts. They entered into a marriage of convenience based on gut feelings about each other, which was risky for both. They had their rough spots, but always discussed issues respectfully when they disagreed, and their first instinct was always to look out for their partner. There were two other important threads of the storyline: the murder attempts and a blackmailer. These added interest to the novel, but never overshadowed the romance of the story. This is the third (and best) of the series. While the heroes and heroines from the earlier books appear in this one, it isn't absolutely vital to read the books in order, so this will work as a standalone. The epilogue does wrap up things for all three couples.
Steam-level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 5 stars
Heroine: Jane Helena Delaney, 29. Works in her grandfather’s bookshop.
Hero: Major Christopher Marsden, age unknown. Duke of Roxby. Is face blind.
Date: 1859 (epilogue = 4 years later)
How they meet: Jane has been abandoned at a ball by her mother and stepsister. Walking home, Jane goes by Christopher’s house where a party is going on. She only knows him by his bad reputation and decides to enter the house to get some gossip she can sell to a newspaper (she needs the money because someone is blackmailing her and her mother is in debt). Jane gets lost in the house and ends up in the library. She notices the valuable, rare books there, and thinking the scandalous duke would have no interest in them, decides to take one to sell. She fails to notice Christopher is in the dark library and he catches her in the act of trying to smuggle the book out.
What happens: Christopher questions why she is taking the book, but lets her leave with the expectation she will return in the afternoon to discuss the matter further. Something about Jane captivates him and he tries to find out more about her before their meeting. At the meeting, Christopher is ready to make a deal with Jane. He suffered a head injury that has resulted in face blindness. While he is worried this condition will lead his peers to think him mad, it is even more dangerous because there have been several attempts on his life since taking the title. Jane’s face, which is scarred from an accident, is the only face Christopher has been able to remember. If she agrees to a marriage of convenience, she can be by his side to smooth the way socially for him. In exchange, he will pay off her mother’s debts, which were guaranteed by putting up the half of Jane’s beloved grandfather’s bookshop held by her mother. (He does not know about Jane’s blackmailer.) Part of the deal will also include providing an heir, but after that they can lead separate lives and he will continue to financially support her throughout her life. They discuss the matter, with Jane adding in some conditions of her own. Because of her scarred face, she had resigned herself to remaining a spinster, but the chance to have a baby is a strong pull for her. He gives her some time to consider, they get to know each other a bit more, and she agrees to the marriage. Despite hardly knowing one another, the two feel a sense of rightness about the match.
Trigger Warnings:
Verdict: I really enjoyed this book! The emotional journey of the hero and heroine was handled superbly. They had some similar traumatic events in their lives--both had been jilted years before and both suffered physical injuries with long-lasting impacts. They entered into a marriage of convenience based on gut feelings about each other, which was risky for both. They had their rough spots, but always discussed issues respectfully when they disagreed, and their first instinct was always to look out for their partner. There were two other important threads of the storyline: the murder attempts and a blackmailer. These added interest to the novel, but never overshadowed the romance of the story. This is the third (and best) of the series. While the heroes and heroines from the earlier books appear in this one, it isn't absolutely vital to read the books in order, so this will work as a standalone. The epilogue does wrap up things for all three couples.
Steam-level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 5 stars
August 27, 2025
3 stars.
Somewhat disappointed in this story - it had potential but I just stopped feeling a connection between the MCs about midway through the story. The storyline was actually decent, but by the end, the love between them just felt forced. The hero threw a mini hissy fit at one point and I just never recovered any love for him. The best (or worst) part is that the hero was upset about the heroine not being perfectly honest with him (after knowing him for only two weeks), but then we come to find out that he also kept stuff from her (but ofc she forgave him instantly). I hate double standards. Also, this definitely isn’t very historically accurate, which doesn’t really bother me, but might be an issue for others.
Safety is ok
-Heroine not a virgin, she had one really disappointing and painful sexual experience 10 years prior with a man who she thought loved her, but ended up ditching her. She got pregnant and miscarried soon after.
-Hero was a manwhore until about 1 year prior when he had an accident, started experiencing some issues, and had no desire for sex. But he threw crazy parties at his house… with other people having public sex… that he didn’t participate in?? Not sure why exactly and his explanations are mid at best.
-Hero was also previously engaged and she jilted him and married OM, but now she’s back and pining for him. A year prior, she threw herself at him and he *almost* had sex with her, but supposedly didn’t go all the way. He says he doesn’t want to go into graphic detail to the heroine about what they did do, but I’m sure it wasn’t just kissing. Now the OW is back and she tells the heroine that they did “make love” but heroine decides to believe the hero’s version of events instead. I wouldn’t. 🫠 Either way, this was before he met the heroine, but still distasteful.
-No OM/OW scenes or cheating for either during the story.
Somewhat disappointed in this story - it had potential but I just stopped feeling a connection between the MCs about midway through the story. The storyline was actually decent, but by the end, the love between them just felt forced. The hero threw a mini hissy fit at one point and I just never recovered any love for him. The best (or worst) part is that the hero was upset about the heroine not being perfectly honest with him (after knowing him for only two weeks), but then we come to find out that he also kept stuff from her (but ofc she forgave him instantly). I hate double standards. Also, this definitely isn’t very historically accurate, which doesn’t really bother me, but might be an issue for others.
Safety is ok
-Heroine not a virgin, she had one really disappointing and painful sexual experience 10 years prior with a man who she thought loved her, but ended up ditching her. She got pregnant and miscarried soon after.
-Hero was a manwhore until about 1 year prior when he had an accident, started experiencing some issues, and had no desire for sex. But he threw crazy parties at his house… with other people having public sex… that he didn’t participate in?? Not sure why exactly and his explanations are mid at best.
-Hero was also previously engaged and she jilted him and married OM, but now she’s back and pining for him. A year prior, she threw herself at him and he *almost* had sex with her, but supposedly didn’t go all the way. He says he doesn’t want to go into graphic detail to the heroine about what they did do, but I’m sure it wasn’t just kissing. Now the OW is back and she tells the heroine that they did “make love” but heroine decides to believe the hero’s version of events instead. I wouldn’t. 🫠 Either way, this was before he met the heroine, but still distasteful.
-No OM/OW scenes or cheating for either during the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book, and this is my freely given opinion.
I really enjoyed this book-loving themed series, and am sad to see it end (if it is ending?). This is the story about the third and last member of the original book club, Jane Delaney. She suffered heartbreak years prior when, after a disfiguring dog cart accident, her fiance, who was driving, abandoned her, not being able to cope with her facial injuries and subsequent scar. She is still a beautiful, intelligent, loving woman, but she has learned that many people cannot see and value her beyond her scar, including her own mother. She finds solace and comfort in her friends, their book club, and the book store they have it in, Delaney's, run by her grandfather. Unfortunately, her beloved home away from home, the book store, is in danger of being lost to her family. Her mother inherited half of it when Jane's father passed away, and she lost her half in a wager when she became addicted to gambling at an exclusive for ladies only gambling hell. Add to that, Jane herself is being blackmailed as someone has gained her private journals during a break in and discovered her secret plans to start publishing instructional booklets for women on how to protect themselves from being hurt/used/maltreated by men, such as she was.
Jane is desperate to do what she can to wipe out her mother's debt and save the bookstore. To this end, she infiltrates a riotous orgy at the notorious Duke of Roxby's in order to obtain some saleable gossip. Once inside, she finds rare antique books in the library, and thinking she is alone, tries to abscond with one to save the store. But of course she is caught red-handed, by the Duke himself, Christopher Marsden.
Christopher is intrigued by the bold woman he caught lifting her skirts to hide her ill-gotten treasure, and arranges for her to come to his home again to discuss her thievery and why. When they meet again, Christopher offers Jane an irresistible offer. It turns out he has been the target of murder attempts but is stymied in his investigations into who is seeking his death because of a disability that developed after a head injury after one of the attempts. He developed facial agnosia - the inability to recognize/remember faces. He also realizes this is a serious social set back and could undermine his ability to run his duchy and take on his role in parliament as well as he could be perceived as incompetent. As such he has coped by abstaining from social events and setting up a persona of a rake. But in Jane, he has found an invaluable ally - because hers is the only face that he can remember for some reason. He proposes - literally. Because with Jane at his side, he can have an ally he can recognize and remember, and she could help him hide and cope with his inability to recognize faces. Jane agrees, as this would help allay some of her problems and offers her a future of a home of her own, and possibly a family, something she had given up on.
As Jane and Christopher embark on their marriage of convenience, they learn to trust and depend on each other, and out of that, love and passion develop. But Jane is still keeping secrets from Christopher despite promising honesty, because she is still being blackmailed, and is afraid he would not support her endeavours. This, and the continued mystery of who is trying to target Christopher, and now Jane as well, puts a lot of drama and stress on their new and tenuous romance.
A highly enjoyable story with drama and intrigue. I quite enjoyed the dynamic of Jane and Christopher and their growing relationship, and like that her face is one that he always will see - and it is not because of her scar. He is vulnerable but is willing to confess his vulnerability to her, with literally trusting her with his life. Despite being handsome, rich, and high ranking, he has been boxed in by his facial amnesia. Because of his relationship with Jane, he also opens up and develops trust and new relationships with others too, whereas he was hiding so much prior. I enjoyed seeing the growth of the characters in their relationship together, and loved how the epilogue brought it all together in such a touching way.
4.5 stars out of 5
I really enjoyed this book-loving themed series, and am sad to see it end (if it is ending?). This is the story about the third and last member of the original book club, Jane Delaney. She suffered heartbreak years prior when, after a disfiguring dog cart accident, her fiance, who was driving, abandoned her, not being able to cope with her facial injuries and subsequent scar. She is still a beautiful, intelligent, loving woman, but she has learned that many people cannot see and value her beyond her scar, including her own mother. She finds solace and comfort in her friends, their book club, and the book store they have it in, Delaney's, run by her grandfather. Unfortunately, her beloved home away from home, the book store, is in danger of being lost to her family. Her mother inherited half of it when Jane's father passed away, and she lost her half in a wager when she became addicted to gambling at an exclusive for ladies only gambling hell. Add to that, Jane herself is being blackmailed as someone has gained her private journals during a break in and discovered her secret plans to start publishing instructional booklets for women on how to protect themselves from being hurt/used/maltreated by men, such as she was.
Jane is desperate to do what she can to wipe out her mother's debt and save the bookstore. To this end, she infiltrates a riotous orgy at the notorious Duke of Roxby's in order to obtain some saleable gossip. Once inside, she finds rare antique books in the library, and thinking she is alone, tries to abscond with one to save the store. But of course she is caught red-handed, by the Duke himself, Christopher Marsden.
Christopher is intrigued by the bold woman he caught lifting her skirts to hide her ill-gotten treasure, and arranges for her to come to his home again to discuss her thievery and why. When they meet again, Christopher offers Jane an irresistible offer. It turns out he has been the target of murder attempts but is stymied in his investigations into who is seeking his death because of a disability that developed after a head injury after one of the attempts. He developed facial agnosia - the inability to recognize/remember faces. He also realizes this is a serious social set back and could undermine his ability to run his duchy and take on his role in parliament as well as he could be perceived as incompetent. As such he has coped by abstaining from social events and setting up a persona of a rake. But in Jane, he has found an invaluable ally - because hers is the only face that he can remember for some reason. He proposes - literally. Because with Jane at his side, he can have an ally he can recognize and remember, and she could help him hide and cope with his inability to recognize faces. Jane agrees, as this would help allay some of her problems and offers her a future of a home of her own, and possibly a family, something she had given up on.
As Jane and Christopher embark on their marriage of convenience, they learn to trust and depend on each other, and out of that, love and passion develop. But Jane is still keeping secrets from Christopher despite promising honesty, because she is still being blackmailed, and is afraid he would not support her endeavours. This, and the continued mystery of who is trying to target Christopher, and now Jane as well, puts a lot of drama and stress on their new and tenuous romance.
A highly enjoyable story with drama and intrigue. I quite enjoyed the dynamic of Jane and Christopher and their growing relationship, and like that her face is one that he always will see - and it is not because of her scar. He is vulnerable but is willing to confess his vulnerability to her, with literally trusting her with his life. Despite being handsome, rich, and high ranking, he has been boxed in by his facial amnesia. Because of his relationship with Jane, he also opens up and develops trust and new relationships with others too, whereas he was hiding so much prior. I enjoyed seeing the growth of the characters in their relationship together, and loved how the epilogue brought it all together in such a touching way.
4.5 stars out of 5
July 15, 2023
Rating: 4/5
Steam: 3,5/5
CW: Mention of a previous miscarriage
Beelzebubs Ballocks!
The latest installment in the Byronic Book Club series is here!
I enjoyed this so much, just like the other books in this series. We finally get to see Jane get her happy ending.
Jane is the granddaughter of the owner of Delaney’s bookshop, which is also where the bookclub meetings between Artemis, Lucy and herself have been held. Unfortunately the bookshop is in danger of being sold and on top of that Jane is being blackmailed.
This means she needs money, desperately. She stumbles upon the house of the Duke of Roxby where another debauchery party is being held and she hopes to find some gossip that she’s able to sell to a newspaper to earn some cash. There she finds something even better, a rare copy of the Canterbury Tales. When deciding to steal the book (the Duke will never notice it right?) she gets caught redhanded. And this might’ve been my favorite meetcute ever.
The interaction between Jane and Christopher (said duke of Roxby) is *chef’s kiss*. The banter, Jane’s witty responses to Christopher’s questions. This sucked me right into the book.
Also, I like a good marriage of convenience story and especially with the ‘I will never be able to be in love with you’ added in the mix. In lust with each other though? They want to tear each other’s clothes off at any time of day and I am here for it! The spice in this one is topnotch and WHEW that opera scene! Also I love good carriage bang scene.
There are a lot of high stakes going on here. Too much to sum them all up. I love how Bennett wrote about a mmc with facial recognition blindness. He is relying on Jane to navigate the world and to find out who exactly is out there to kill him and why.
Let’s talk a bit about Christopher, because I just adore his swoonworthyness. Is that a word? Now it is. He is totally trusting of Jane even though he has been jilted before and although he is sensing that she has her own secrets, he trusts her to tell him about it. (Unfortunately this is where it went a bit south for me)
The end was a bit meh, but I knew it wasn’t gonna be some dramatic ending because this series had been such a low angst ride. This was the most angsty one of the three.
Jane had multiple times to come clean, and while I understand her, these things make me want to pull my hair out with frustration. I liked it a lot when she finally opened up to Artemis and Lucy to get their help. It’s a major issue for her because she is always the one to fix everything for other people. It took guts, especially considering everything Jane went through.
This book also solidified again that I adore reading books set in the Victorian age. Where the Industrial Revolution is well on its way and there are trains as a means of transport.
I loved the epilogue, it was a great ending for a great series. I expected that Chris and Jane would take Oliver in and this creates a LOT of potential for a possible new series with interconnected characters. If that is the case: I want it, thank you.
Steam: 3,5/5
CW: Mention of a previous miscarriage
Beelzebubs Ballocks!
The latest installment in the Byronic Book Club series is here!
I enjoyed this so much, just like the other books in this series. We finally get to see Jane get her happy ending.
Jane is the granddaughter of the owner of Delaney’s bookshop, which is also where the bookclub meetings between Artemis, Lucy and herself have been held. Unfortunately the bookshop is in danger of being sold and on top of that Jane is being blackmailed.
This means she needs money, desperately. She stumbles upon the house of the Duke of Roxby where another debauchery party is being held and she hopes to find some gossip that she’s able to sell to a newspaper to earn some cash. There she finds something even better, a rare copy of the Canterbury Tales. When deciding to steal the book (the Duke will never notice it right?) she gets caught redhanded. And this might’ve been my favorite meetcute ever.
The interaction between Jane and Christopher (said duke of Roxby) is *chef’s kiss*. The banter, Jane’s witty responses to Christopher’s questions. This sucked me right into the book.
Also, I like a good marriage of convenience story and especially with the ‘I will never be able to be in love with you’ added in the mix. In lust with each other though? They want to tear each other’s clothes off at any time of day and I am here for it! The spice in this one is topnotch and WHEW that opera scene! Also I love good carriage bang scene.
There are a lot of high stakes going on here. Too much to sum them all up. I love how Bennett wrote about a mmc with facial recognition blindness. He is relying on Jane to navigate the world and to find out who exactly is out there to kill him and why.
Let’s talk a bit about Christopher, because I just adore his swoonworthyness. Is that a word? Now it is. He is totally trusting of Jane even though he has been jilted before and although he is sensing that she has her own secrets, he trusts her to tell him about it. (Unfortunately this is where it went a bit south for me)
The end was a bit meh, but I knew it wasn’t gonna be some dramatic ending because this series had been such a low angst ride. This was the most angsty one of the three.
Jane had multiple times to come clean, and while I understand her, these things make me want to pull my hair out with frustration. I liked it a lot when she finally opened up to Artemis and Lucy to get their help. It’s a major issue for her because she is always the one to fix everything for other people. It took guts, especially considering everything Jane went through.
This book also solidified again that I adore reading books set in the Victorian age. Where the Industrial Revolution is well on its way and there are trains as a means of transport.
I loved the epilogue, it was a great ending for a great series. I expected that Chris and Jane would take Oliver in and this creates a LOT of potential for a possible new series with interconnected characters. If that is the case: I want it, thank you.
July 12, 2023
Note: this book is the third in the series, and although it's passable as a standalone, previous characters play a pretty large role overall, so I would recommend reading the previous two books first.
There are several tropes at play here: scarred spinster MFC, MC covering for parent who has lost the family's fortunes, blackmailed MC, marriage of convenience. And of course, MC's who have been burned in previous relationships and have trouble with trust. But I thought the most interesting idea, which I haven't seen in a lot of HR's, is that of a MMC with face-blindness. This increases an element of mystery in what is a fairly standard plot and gives the MMC, Christopher, added depth and vulnerability.
The setup: Christopher is a duke who is former military and has recently encountered numerous attempts on his life. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to see the culprit well enough during any of the attempts, and due to a head injury he has no memory for faces anyway. He cannot identify even the people in his employ. He has tried to arrange his life in a way that keeps his disability from being obvious, resorting to using an unsavory reputation as a social facade. He meets MFC Jane when she sneaks into one of his wild parties--ostensibly to find a bit of fodder for a gossip column that she has contributed to. She ends up in his library and locates a valuable book that she knows will take care of her mother's gambling debts and pay off the person who broke into her grandfather's antique bookshop, stealing her notes regarding women's sexual agency. Fearing she and her family will be scandalized if it comes to light that she is the author of these writings, Jane accepts when Christopher offers her a marriage of convenience. He hopes that she will help him remember faces and identify who is attempting to kill him, while her focus is on the monetary advantage of the arrangement.
I enjoyed the sexy scene when Christopher and Jane met and their banter throughout the book. There are plenty of spicy, open door scenes. On the downside, when angst comes into play in the final 30%, it feels fairly perfunctory. Also, the connection between MC's is instant, and while they have good chemistry, I would have preferred a bit more sexual tension before the first kiss, sex scene, and marriage.
Jane is a sympathetic character, although it's hard to understand why she didn't confide in her friends sooner, particularly Artemis. Christopher is also likable; the author does a nice job of voicing his inner turmoil when he borders on thickheaded. I wasn't crazy about his attitude toward the charming detective he'd hired (I hope this character shows up in an upcoming book by the author). The MC's talk through their misunderstandings in a more adult manner than in your typical romance.
Secondary characters from previous books contribute to the solving of both mysteries. My two biggest quibbles are that the main mystery is easy to figure out, and the blackmail subplot fell flat. It did tie up the three books, but was quite predictable.
Overall: this is diverting, level-3 steaminess with a touch of mystery and MC's who are basically intelligent, emotionally mature people, which is always nice in a HR. This author has a strong writing style that never seems too modern or anachronistic for the time period. The face-blindness element is welcome, and the epilogue does a nice job of wrapping up the series.
I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Net Galley.
There are several tropes at play here: scarred spinster MFC, MC covering for parent who has lost the family's fortunes, blackmailed MC, marriage of convenience. And of course, MC's who have been burned in previous relationships and have trouble with trust. But I thought the most interesting idea, which I haven't seen in a lot of HR's, is that of a MMC with face-blindness. This increases an element of mystery in what is a fairly standard plot and gives the MMC, Christopher, added depth and vulnerability.
The setup: Christopher is a duke who is former military and has recently encountered numerous attempts on his life. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to see the culprit well enough during any of the attempts, and due to a head injury he has no memory for faces anyway. He cannot identify even the people in his employ. He has tried to arrange his life in a way that keeps his disability from being obvious, resorting to using an unsavory reputation as a social facade. He meets MFC Jane when she sneaks into one of his wild parties--ostensibly to find a bit of fodder for a gossip column that she has contributed to. She ends up in his library and locates a valuable book that she knows will take care of her mother's gambling debts and pay off the person who broke into her grandfather's antique bookshop, stealing her notes regarding women's sexual agency. Fearing she and her family will be scandalized if it comes to light that she is the author of these writings, Jane accepts when Christopher offers her a marriage of convenience. He hopes that she will help him remember faces and identify who is attempting to kill him, while her focus is on the monetary advantage of the arrangement.
I enjoyed the sexy scene when Christopher and Jane met and their banter throughout the book. There are plenty of spicy, open door scenes. On the downside, when angst comes into play in the final 30%, it feels fairly perfunctory. Also, the connection between MC's is instant, and while they have good chemistry, I would have preferred a bit more sexual tension before the first kiss, sex scene, and marriage.
Jane is a sympathetic character, although it's hard to understand why she didn't confide in her friends sooner, particularly Artemis. Christopher is also likable; the author does a nice job of voicing his inner turmoil when he borders on thickheaded. I wasn't crazy about his attitude toward the charming detective he'd hired (I hope this character shows up in an upcoming book by the author). The MC's talk through their misunderstandings in a more adult manner than in your typical romance.
Secondary characters from previous books contribute to the solving of both mysteries. My two biggest quibbles are that the main mystery is easy to figure out, and the blackmail subplot fell flat. It did tie up the three books, but was quite predictable.
Overall: this is diverting, level-3 steaminess with a touch of mystery and MC's who are basically intelligent, emotionally mature people, which is always nice in a HR. This author has a strong writing style that never seems too modern or anachronistic for the time period. The face-blindness element is welcome, and the epilogue does a nice job of wrapping up the series.
I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Net Galley.
August 7, 2023
I’ve seen a lot of romance heroes with a number of scars, diseases, disabilities, etc, throughout the year; I love anything when a novel (especially a historical) gives a voice to an overshadowed community and allows the reader to imagine what life may have been like at the time. While amnesia is nothing new in terms of plot device,Tall Duke and Scandalous by Amy Rose Bennett, offers a slight deviation to this often played out contrivance. Our hero, Christopher, The Duke of Roxby, suffering from facial blindness, is being hunted and has no idea if knows his attacker or if they are simply another faceless stranger. To help him solve the mystery, he propositions Lady Jane Delaney, whose facial scarring keeps her on the edge of making a respectable marriage. While pining for a family of her own, she has accepted her future as a lonely spinster. Her beauty, emphasized by her scar, captivates Christopher, and he refuses to let her go.
The Compliment Sandwich
The Top Bun (The Pro)
A Sex Positive Couple
We have a hero that is not shy in his desire and a heroine with an equally enthusiastic view of sex. While both parties knowingly enter into marriage with the understanding that it is a means to an end (financial stability for her and stopping his murder), both are vocifierous in their sexual attraction to each other.
“Chrisotpher had correctly surmised that she wouldn’t quail in the face of such naked want. That she wanted him to fan the embers of their mutual lust into something hot and bright and all-consuming…He made her feel alive. Real. A woman of flesh and bone. Of panted breaths and tingling nerves and a racing heart. She was somehow more than the drifting shadow she’d been for so long”.
Jane, along with her friends, has a very forward thinking view of medicine, female empowerment, sexual congress, and independence. As this is the third novel in the series of strong independent women, each Byronic Club member supports the others in their pursuits no matter how scandalous the outcome.
The Meat (The Con)
The Third Act Breakup
While I can understand Christopher’s reasoning, doesn’t mean I have to like it.
The Bottom Bun
Facial Blindness as a Plot Device
When Brad Pitt announced to the world that he suffers from facial blindness many treated his revelation as a joke to garner attention. While I can’t say definitively if that was or wasn’t the impetus behind his reveal (I don’t know the man), I can easily say that the affliction is very serious.
Imagine looking at yourself in the mirror every day and not recognizing your own face. Now, imagine you are being hunted for an unknown reason and you recognize no one. No one but a scarred beautiful woman attempting to steal a priceless text from your library. If out of thousands of faces, you only recognize one; you’d be endeared to this person. On top of this connection, you desire them but feel less than due to, what you consider to be, your failings. It definitely sets the stage for emotional connections and feelings of helplessness for the characters. Bravo to Bennett for utilizing this condition and not crafting a pitiable character - you empathize with Christopher. From page one you are on board with the MC’s connection and how they will lean on each other to move forward. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book and others by this author. She was an unknown quantity for me but I’ve delved into her back catalog since this discovery.
The Compliment Sandwich
The Top Bun (The Pro)
A Sex Positive Couple
We have a hero that is not shy in his desire and a heroine with an equally enthusiastic view of sex. While both parties knowingly enter into marriage with the understanding that it is a means to an end (financial stability for her and stopping his murder), both are vocifierous in their sexual attraction to each other.
“Chrisotpher had correctly surmised that she wouldn’t quail in the face of such naked want. That she wanted him to fan the embers of their mutual lust into something hot and bright and all-consuming…He made her feel alive. Real. A woman of flesh and bone. Of panted breaths and tingling nerves and a racing heart. She was somehow more than the drifting shadow she’d been for so long”.
Jane, along with her friends, has a very forward thinking view of medicine, female empowerment, sexual congress, and independence. As this is the third novel in the series of strong independent women, each Byronic Club member supports the others in their pursuits no matter how scandalous the outcome.
The Meat (The Con)
The Third Act Breakup
While I can understand Christopher’s reasoning, doesn’t mean I have to like it.
The Bottom Bun
Facial Blindness as a Plot Device
When Brad Pitt announced to the world that he suffers from facial blindness many treated his revelation as a joke to garner attention. While I can’t say definitively if that was or wasn’t the impetus behind his reveal (I don’t know the man), I can easily say that the affliction is very serious.
Imagine looking at yourself in the mirror every day and not recognizing your own face. Now, imagine you are being hunted for an unknown reason and you recognize no one. No one but a scarred beautiful woman attempting to steal a priceless text from your library. If out of thousands of faces, you only recognize one; you’d be endeared to this person. On top of this connection, you desire them but feel less than due to, what you consider to be, your failings. It definitely sets the stage for emotional connections and feelings of helplessness for the characters. Bravo to Bennett for utilizing this condition and not crafting a pitiable character - you empathize with Christopher. From page one you are on board with the MC’s connection and how they will lean on each other to move forward. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book and others by this author. She was an unknown quantity for me but I’ve delved into her back catalog since this discovery.
November 30, 2024
I liked Christopher and Jane, but to think that all events happened under 2 weeks is WILD.
I lowkey wish Christopher had more game but he’s still fine 😮💨
Also I loved how Jane and Christopher compliment each other!
This was a cool trilogy, romance, angst & spice filled and perfect if you’re looking for a good mystery too 👀
I lowkey wish Christopher had more game but he’s still fine 😮💨
Also I loved how Jane and Christopher compliment each other!
This was a cool trilogy, romance, angst & spice filled and perfect if you’re looking for a good mystery too 👀
April 16, 2024
This was a fun marriage of convenience story with some mystery ( although the culprit in question was so easy to guess and our hero and heroine didn’t even think about that person until almost the end of the book) 🤦♀️ , some secrets that just made no sense and were a much ado about nothing really , and lots of spicy 🌶️ scenes!! Overall it as a fun read
My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫
My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫
August 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this novel, the third in Amy Rose Bennett's Byronic Book Club series, which finds Jane Delaney, a scarred, bluestocking heroine finding her own happily-ever-after with Christopher Marsden, the scandalous Duke of Roxby. Both Jane and Christopher are likable characters, and when they come together, their passion (and lust) is insatiable and searing. It is definitely a spicy read, although I did feel like it was a little over the top toward the end, with flavors of Bridgerton and other historical romances. All bases and spaces were well-covered by these two lovebirds, but it didn't really add more to the story because we're already very aware of how much these two feel for each other and are drawn together by their scorching attraction.
Also, for me, at just over 400 pages, there were parts of the story that felt a little redundant, particularly when Jane is feeling guilty, and Christopher is struggling with issues of trust. There are only so many times that Jane can offer that it is all her fault, when really it takes two people to create and/or respond to a situation. In my opinion, some of these parts could have been pared down or perhaps eliminated. I didn't want Jane to chant her "mea culpa's" as much as she did. And for me, it took them way too long to admit that they loved each other. Both of them are such strong personalities and characters that it seemed as if they would have had more courage to express how they felt earlier than they did in the novel.
That being said, I loved when they reconciled and were able to work together as a team. I also loved how the MC's from the previous two books in the series, Dominic and Artemis (Book 1) and Will and Lucy (Book 2) reappeared and came to the aid of both Christopher and Jane in this story. They are all really lovely characters, and of course it was delightful to see the gang back together and expanding its ranks. The epilogue is very heartwarming and sweet - and it's gratifying that by the end, Jane's scars, both external and internal, are no longer visible to the reader. I almost completely forgot she had a prominent facial scar from a previous injury.
Things that I would have like to see in this story but which didn't appear include: the reappearance of Miles Dempster (who looms ever large in Jane's past and her psyche), if only to allow Jane to show that cad what he was missing and to provide her with more agency in letting go of her past with him. Letting her have the last word would have been welcome, since we see so many people from Christopher's past with some sort of resolution of those relationships. I also wanted a better understanding of Mr. O'Connor's character. He's Featherstone's cousin, and Featherstone is a trusted friend/valet to Christopher. That Mr. O'Connor goes from being capable and respected (and helps Jane ultimately) to being dodgily dismissed didn't feel quite right to me for his arc in the novel.
All in all, I found this story to be a really enjoyable read, with vivid characters who are lovable yet hardheaded and flawed! I'm glad Jane and Christopher were able to get their act together and have their very happily-ever-after at the end!
I received a free ARC of this story from NetGalley. I am leaving my review of it voluntarily, and all opinions expressed herein are my own.
Also, for me, at just over 400 pages, there were parts of the story that felt a little redundant, particularly when Jane is feeling guilty, and Christopher is struggling with issues of trust. There are only so many times that Jane can offer that it is all her fault, when really it takes two people to create and/or respond to a situation. In my opinion, some of these parts could have been pared down or perhaps eliminated. I didn't want Jane to chant her "mea culpa's" as much as she did. And for me, it took them way too long to admit that they loved each other. Both of them are such strong personalities and characters that it seemed as if they would have had more courage to express how they felt earlier than they did in the novel.
That being said, I loved when they reconciled and were able to work together as a team. I also loved how the MC's from the previous two books in the series, Dominic and Artemis (Book 1) and Will and Lucy (Book 2) reappeared and came to the aid of both Christopher and Jane in this story. They are all really lovely characters, and of course it was delightful to see the gang back together and expanding its ranks. The epilogue is very heartwarming and sweet - and it's gratifying that by the end, Jane's scars, both external and internal, are no longer visible to the reader. I almost completely forgot she had a prominent facial scar from a previous injury.
Things that I would have like to see in this story but which didn't appear include: the reappearance of Miles Dempster (who looms ever large in Jane's past and her psyche), if only to allow Jane to show that cad what he was missing and to provide her with more agency in letting go of her past with him. Letting her have the last word would have been welcome, since we see so many people from Christopher's past with some sort of resolution of those relationships. I also wanted a better understanding of Mr. O'Connor's character. He's Featherstone's cousin, and Featherstone is a trusted friend/valet to Christopher. That Mr. O'Connor goes from being capable and respected (and helps Jane ultimately) to being dodgily dismissed didn't feel quite right to me for his arc in the novel.
All in all, I found this story to be a really enjoyable read, with vivid characters who are lovable yet hardheaded and flawed! I'm glad Jane and Christopher were able to get their act together and have their very happily-ever-after at the end!
I received a free ARC of this story from NetGalley. I am leaving my review of it voluntarily, and all opinions expressed herein are my own.
August 22, 2023
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
When her mother forfeits her share in the family bookstore, Jane Delaney knows she needs to do something drastic to save it, and herself. Thinking she might be able to sell gossip from a scandalous party thrown by Christopher Marsden, Duke of Roxby, Jane comes across a first edition copy of The Canterbury Tales. Considering stealing it, she is caught by none other than the duke, who tells her to return the next morning to discuss what'll happen next. For Christopher, returning from war to his new title, he has been in a number of 'accidents', one of which left him with face blindness. He doesn't recognise who anyone is, not even his own face in the mirror, but with Jane, he sees her, and knows it is Jane. So, in return for not mentioning the attempted theft, Christopher proposes to Jane, offering to pay off her debts even, as long as she helps him navigate society, and try and discover who wants him dead. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon becomes anything but, though will the couple be able to love each other?
This was the best ending to the Byronic Book Club series I could've asked for. Jane was a fantastic heroine, who was by no means perfect, and she loved her family and friends so much. Her and Christopher didn't have the best first meeting, but their chemistry was fantastic. One of the reasons to marry so quickly was to ensure that Christopher had an heir, and Jane was more than happy to have a child. She had been unlucky in love before, and when her ex-fiancee abandoned her after her accident, she had shied away from love. Not expecting to fall for Christopher, Jane was happy to help him with his face-blindness, and wanted to stop the villain in their tracks. But she was also being blackmailed herself, and didn't know who to trust. I wish she had opened up to Christopher more, but I understood her hesitancy. The villains of the story were easy to identify, but I enjoyed the mystery and camaraderie of the couple with the couples from the previous books. The epilogue tied together the whole series so well, and I am so pleased with where our three heroines are left. A fantastic ending!
When her mother forfeits her share in the family bookstore, Jane Delaney knows she needs to do something drastic to save it, and herself. Thinking she might be able to sell gossip from a scandalous party thrown by Christopher Marsden, Duke of Roxby, Jane comes across a first edition copy of The Canterbury Tales. Considering stealing it, she is caught by none other than the duke, who tells her to return the next morning to discuss what'll happen next. For Christopher, returning from war to his new title, he has been in a number of 'accidents', one of which left him with face blindness. He doesn't recognise who anyone is, not even his own face in the mirror, but with Jane, he sees her, and knows it is Jane. So, in return for not mentioning the attempted theft, Christopher proposes to Jane, offering to pay off her debts even, as long as she helps him navigate society, and try and discover who wants him dead. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon becomes anything but, though will the couple be able to love each other?
This was the best ending to the Byronic Book Club series I could've asked for. Jane was a fantastic heroine, who was by no means perfect, and she loved her family and friends so much. Her and Christopher didn't have the best first meeting, but their chemistry was fantastic. One of the reasons to marry so quickly was to ensure that Christopher had an heir, and Jane was more than happy to have a child. She had been unlucky in love before, and when her ex-fiancee abandoned her after her accident, she had shied away from love. Not expecting to fall for Christopher, Jane was happy to help him with his face-blindness, and wanted to stop the villain in their tracks. But she was also being blackmailed herself, and didn't know who to trust. I wish she had opened up to Christopher more, but I understood her hesitancy. The villains of the story were easy to identify, but I enjoyed the mystery and camaraderie of the couple with the couples from the previous books. The epilogue tied together the whole series so well, and I am so pleased with where our three heroines are left. A fantastic ending!
October 27, 2023
This book is more of a 3.5⭐️ for me, but I don’t feel like it deserves a round up to a 4
Jane feels desperate as she crashes the notorious Duke of Roxby’s party on a whim. Her mother has a gambling problem and Jane is being blackmailed. So starts Tall, Duke and Scandalous the 3rd book in Ms Bennett’s Byronic series. But Christopher, the Duke of Roxby has his own problems, namely that someone is trying to kill him and due to the first try on his life he is suffering face blindness so everyone around him seems like a stranger (including his own face in the mirror). When he discovers Jane in his library trying to steal a rare book, he realizes that hers is the only face that he can distinguish and so he proposes a marriage of convenience and her help in trying to figure out who’s trying to kill him. This sounds so up my trope alley. I love a good marriage of convenience and a mystery. But unfortunately for me everything just felt really rushed and contrived. The most obvious suspect that would want Christopher dead is not even a consideration or even discussed until much later in the book when 3 other ( with very slim reasons to want to kill him) subjects are dismissed. Jane’s blackmailer was interesting and I was surprised by who it was. The Insta-lust is definitely there right at the start, but the author feels compelled to add some over the top angst that just seemed too contrived and over blown. So, did I like the story? Yes, but not even close to how much I loved book 2 and not as much as the first book. I just didn’t feel the true organic connection in this book as I did to the rest of the series. But I still love Ms Bennett’s writing and will continue my way through her catalog!!
I was kindly given this ARC by NetGallery for my honest review
Jane feels desperate as she crashes the notorious Duke of Roxby’s party on a whim. Her mother has a gambling problem and Jane is being blackmailed. So starts Tall, Duke and Scandalous the 3rd book in Ms Bennett’s Byronic series. But Christopher, the Duke of Roxby has his own problems, namely that someone is trying to kill him and due to the first try on his life he is suffering face blindness so everyone around him seems like a stranger (including his own face in the mirror). When he discovers Jane in his library trying to steal a rare book, he realizes that hers is the only face that he can distinguish and so he proposes a marriage of convenience and her help in trying to figure out who’s trying to kill him. This sounds so up my trope alley. I love a good marriage of convenience and a mystery. But unfortunately for me everything just felt really rushed and contrived. The most obvious suspect that would want Christopher dead is not even a consideration or even discussed until much later in the book when 3 other ( with very slim reasons to want to kill him) subjects are dismissed. Jane’s blackmailer was interesting and I was surprised by who it was. The Insta-lust is definitely there right at the start, but the author feels compelled to add some over the top angst that just seemed too contrived and over blown. So, did I like the story? Yes, but not even close to how much I loved book 2 and not as much as the first book. I just didn’t feel the true organic connection in this book as I did to the rest of the series. But I still love Ms Bennett’s writing and will continue my way through her catalog!!
I was kindly given this ARC by NetGallery for my honest review
April 30, 2023
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 stars.
An engaging historical novel with relatable, likeable characters “Tall, Duke, and Scandalous”, by Amy Rose Bennett (Sourcebooks Casablanca), addresses social issues and explores feminism and women’s liberation in the 19th century while also being a sweet and sexy romance.
The lead characters, Christopher and Jane, are very relatable and down-to-earth. Both flawed, they meet in an unexpected way and form a pact that will lead to friendship, mutual respect, lust and love.
Both are compassionate, smart people, who slowly fall for each but are afraid of their own emotions. The way romance develops between them was natural and believable.
I liked how the author wrote about the hero’s condition and the insecurity and despair he must feel without an anchor as Jane.
I also liked that Jane’s scar wasn’t overdramatized.
I was a bit disappointed with the miracle cure. Perhaps some scientific explanation might make it more believable.
The leads’ fears and dreams seemed realistic and made them human and approachable.
Jane’s and her friends’ projects bring freshness to the story, although I wonder if things would run so smoothly in Victorian England.
The suspense plot around Christopher’s risky situation was decent.
Large parts of the book were filled with sex scenes and the leads musings about collateral problems involving dishonesty and guilt.
Although some of the characters traits and reactions seemed too modern, I found the worldbuilding realistic.
3.5 stars.
An engaging historical novel with relatable, likeable characters “Tall, Duke, and Scandalous”, by Amy Rose Bennett (Sourcebooks Casablanca), addresses social issues and explores feminism and women’s liberation in the 19th century while also being a sweet and sexy romance.
The lead characters, Christopher and Jane, are very relatable and down-to-earth. Both flawed, they meet in an unexpected way and form a pact that will lead to friendship, mutual respect, lust and love.
Both are compassionate, smart people, who slowly fall for each but are afraid of their own emotions. The way romance develops between them was natural and believable.
I liked how the author wrote about the hero’s condition and the insecurity and despair he must feel without an anchor as Jane.
I also liked that Jane’s scar wasn’t overdramatized.
I was a bit disappointed with the miracle cure. Perhaps some scientific explanation might make it more believable.
The leads’ fears and dreams seemed realistic and made them human and approachable.
Jane’s and her friends’ projects bring freshness to the story, although I wonder if things would run so smoothly in Victorian England.
The suspense plot around Christopher’s risky situation was decent.
Large parts of the book were filled with sex scenes and the leads musings about collateral problems involving dishonesty and guilt.
Although some of the characters traits and reactions seemed too modern, I found the worldbuilding realistic.
August 5, 2023
No-nonsense Jane Delaney divides her time between her grandfather's beloved bookstore and writing newspaper columns, determined to overcome a past that's left her with scars on her face and in her heart. But when the store ends up in unexpected financial jeopardy and Jane's secrets are threatened by a mysterious blackmailer, she finds herself in desperate need of money. All seems lost until a temptation like no other presents itself. Christopher Marsden is the new Duke of Roxby and someone wants him dead. The problem is, he has no idea who or why. Following a vicious attack, he's acquired a rare affliction where he can no longer recognize faces. But when he catches Miss Delaney attempting to steal a priceless book from his library, Christopher can tell her apart from the rest. Her scarred beauty stands out like a beacon, and he doesn't want to let her go. So he offers her an outrageous proposal: the money she needs in exchange for a marriage of convenience and her help in catching his would-be killer.
The third book in this lovely series & once again an author has left the best till last. I loved both Jane & Christopher & was routing for them from the first meeting in his library to the lovely epilogue. Two scarred characters who had lots to overcome, I thoroughly enjoyed how they came to trust each other & how they fell in love. Their journey to a HEA wasn’t smooth but it made for a very good read & I devoured it on a rainy day
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The third book in this lovely series & once again an author has left the best till last. I loved both Jane & Christopher & was routing for them from the first meeting in his library to the lovely epilogue. Two scarred characters who had lots to overcome, I thoroughly enjoyed how they came to trust each other & how they fell in love. Their journey to a HEA wasn’t smooth but it made for a very good read & I devoured it on a rainy day
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
March 23, 2024
"Tall, Duke, and Scandalous" is Book three of Amy Rose Bennett's Byronic Book Club series. Jane Delaney did not believe anyone could love her due to the scars on her face caused by incidents in her past, so she divided her time between her grandfather's bookshop and writing for the local newspaper. On hearing that her grandfather's bookshop is in financial trouble and her blackmailer wants more money, she decides to steal a rare book from the collection of the Duke of Roxby. However, she expected to find something other than the Duke Of Roxby Christopher Marsden sitting in the dark in his library. The readers of "Tall, Duke, and Scandalous" will continue to follow Jane Delaney and Christopher Marsden to discover what happens.
"Tall, Duke, and Scandalous" is a fantastic historical romance that allows you to forget your worries and immerse yourself in the story and its characters. I love Amy Rose Bennett's portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other throughout this Book. Amy Rose Bennett's writing and research are well done. I also like Amy Rose Bennett's description of the settings of the Book, which allowed me to imagine being part of the Book's plot.
The readers of "Tall, Duke, and Scandalous" will learn about running a bookshop in early 18th-century England and how jealousy and greed can cloud one's judgment.
Thank you to the author and publisher for my ARC copy of Tall, Duke, and Scandalous in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this Book.
"Tall, Duke, and Scandalous" is a fantastic historical romance that allows you to forget your worries and immerse yourself in the story and its characters. I love Amy Rose Bennett's portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other throughout this Book. Amy Rose Bennett's writing and research are well done. I also like Amy Rose Bennett's description of the settings of the Book, which allowed me to imagine being part of the Book's plot.
The readers of "Tall, Duke, and Scandalous" will learn about running a bookshop in early 18th-century England and how jealousy and greed can cloud one's judgment.
Thank you to the author and publisher for my ARC copy of Tall, Duke, and Scandalous in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this Book.
August 20, 2023
This series has been very spicy! This book did not disappoint with wallflower Jane and Christopher, a Duke with face blindness.
There was a lot of figuring out who is trying to blackmail or harm them. Jane has her secret pamphlet idea that was stolen and someone keeps trying to kill the Duke. The pair meet after Jane sneaks into one of the Duke's wild parties and tries to take an expensive book.
This book is initially a marriage of convinenence, but gets really hot as they fall for eachother. Oh the armory scene, I will leave it at that.
As far as who was behind trying to kill Christopher, I has a strong suspicion the whole book, but was fun trying to figure out when the characters would get there. This was a good series and each book didn't really depend on the others. The best part about all of the book has been the depth of the characters in being not how they appear on the surface. Book club ladies for the win!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
There was a lot of figuring out who is trying to blackmail or harm them. Jane has her secret pamphlet idea that was stolen and someone keeps trying to kill the Duke. The pair meet after Jane sneaks into one of the Duke's wild parties and tries to take an expensive book.
This book is initially a marriage of convinenence, but gets really hot as they fall for eachother. Oh the armory scene, I will leave it at that.
As far as who was behind trying to kill Christopher, I has a strong suspicion the whole book, but was fun trying to figure out when the characters would get there. This was a good series and each book didn't really depend on the others. The best part about all of the book has been the depth of the characters in being not how they appear on the surface. Book club ladies for the win!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
August 12, 2023
This one started off stronger for me than it ended, unfortunately, but there’s still a lot to love about the Byronic Book Club! I really enjoyed Jane and Christopher’s steal-cute in the library, and the tension between them was excellent. What usually works so well for me in marriage of convenience books was on fire here, between these two immediately giving into lust without shame to both being too afraid to step out on that ledge when it came to deeper feelings entering the equation. I’d love to see more in this world (maybe a romance for the investigator in his own right?), but while this wasn’t my favorite book of the series to date, it still made for a strong and captivating read that I wanted to find every excuse to return to every time I put it down.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 19, 2023
I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of Tall Duke and Scandalous by the absolutely great Amy Rose Bennett via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is the third book in the Byronic Book Club series and what a book it is! A story full of suspense, intrigue and mystery. Jane Delaney, a self-declared spinster is left behind at a party and then purposefully enters the home of Christopher Marsden, the Duke of Roxby, so that she can get the inside scoop about some of the debauchery that goes on ar his parties. Their meeting turns out to be a way more entertaining encounter and what ensues is a remarkable story about trust and fear, love and confidence.
August 4, 2023
4 1/2*STARS*
The new Duke of Roxby, Christopher Marsden, suspects someone is out to kill him. He has his list of suspects, but because of his affliction he needs someone he can trust to help him. Meeting Miss Jane Delaney, he knows she is the one. His unexpected proposal is a total surprise, but she has her own reasons for the marriage. One is blackmail. It may be a marriage of convenience, but not for long. A very slow, very passionate erotic romance with a killer on the loose. Be prepared for a few tears.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
The new Duke of Roxby, Christopher Marsden, suspects someone is out to kill him. He has his list of suspects, but because of his affliction he needs someone he can trust to help him. Meeting Miss Jane Delaney, he knows she is the one. His unexpected proposal is a total surprise, but she has her own reasons for the marriage. One is blackmail. It may be a marriage of convenience, but not for long. A very slow, very passionate erotic romance with a killer on the loose. Be prepared for a few tears.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
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