For a dashing duke and the proprietress of a secret, sensual club, passion could lead to love…
Thomas Powell, the new Duke of Northfield, knows he should be proper and principled, like his father. No more duelling, or carousing, or frequenting masked balls. But he’s not ready to give up his freedom just yet.

Lucia—known as Amina—manages the Orchid Club, a secret society where fantasies become reality. Yet no member of the club has ever intrigued her…until him, the masked stranger whose heated looks sear her skin. After months of suppressed longing, do they dare to give in to temptation… ?

Title: Dare to Love a Duke
Author: Eva Leigh
Series: London Underground / Scandalous Ladies of London
Pages: 384
Genre(s): Historical, Regency, England
Hot Buttons: /

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the third book in the Scandalous Ladies of London series (also known as the London Underground series). While the couples from the first two books (From Duke Til(l) Dawn and Counting on a Countess respectively) pop up in this tale - this can be read entirely as a standalone.

I enjoyed the first two books in the series - giving them both 4 stars - but this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. I think that might partly have been because both Tom and Amina/Lucia have appeared throughout the series with little glimpses that set out to tempt readers into wanting to know the couple’s story. Instead, I always thought they were a mismatched pair which definitely had me going into this book waiting to be convinced.

And I was not convinced.

I normally like a couple who are hugely different in some way and have to find a way to overcome their situation/temprement/ideals etc to be together. In this story, I found Lucia and Tom were so similar - jaded, world wise characters - that even their difference in stations hardly seemed insurmountable.

I also very much enjoy sex in a story - in fact I prefer a story with some graphic shenanigans going on and if there’s graphic language it’s all the better. So I was very much surprised that I found the sex, and the descriptions of the Orchid Club’s goings on, to be vulgar, gratuitous and a little gross. And the use of all the f-words in a Regency tale…well, it didn’t feel right, somehow.

Despite the writing being good, I found myself massively struggling to finish this book. I understand that much of this might have been due to my preconceived notions about the book and its characters - which is why I feel it’s only fair that I up my grading to 3 stars instead of my initial thoughts of 2.

Not a book for me, but if you like the idea of a worldly woman who manages a sex club matching with a worldly duke who frequents said sex club - then this very well could be tale for you. But just 3 stars from me.

------------------------

Buy this book now:

* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

The London Underground / Scandalous Ladies of London Series:

       

         

       

Click to see other books by Eva Leigh

Yay! Welcome to Day 4 of the Counting on a Countess Blog Tour!

I'm delighted to have you here for this, my first ever Blog Tour. I'm a Blog Tour virgin!

Counting on a Countess is the second book in Eva Leigh's Scandalous Ladies of London series, the first being From Duke Till Dawn.

For this occasion, I had the opportunity to ask the wonderful Eva Leigh about the series, her writing and which book she wishes she'd written!

Welcome to the blog! What can you tell me about the Scandalous Ladies of London series?

Regency London was a much more dynamic place than we realize! There was Almack’s and White’s,  but there was a whole underworld full of fascinating people. I wanted to write a series that explored different aspects of that underworld, and I wanted to make my heroines the shady characters.

 

What made you write about the more unusual, underground aspects of Regency life - especially the scandalous ladies themselves?

I love that the high and low mixed together, and that the borders between the two were constantly shifting. Those liminal places are where stories happen. When it came to writing a romance that turned its gaze toward the in-between people and places, I wanted to focus on what it was like to be both a woman and someone who didn’t adhere to societal expectations and regulations. Resistance and nonconformity have always existed, so I wanted to turn the camera towards them.

 

Where did you get your inspiration for this series?

I love stories set in places that we don’t often see in historical romance, and I also wanted to see if I could write heroines who have moral complexity.

 

What kind of heroes are in these books - that can handle and love these unusual ladies?

Oh, yes! For me, the heroes have to appreciate all the aspects of what makes the heroines exceptional. They have to admire and support them. So while my heroes wear tall boots and cut dashing figures in Society, they’re also men who recognize the importance of a strong and unique partner. No matter what, my heroes are never misogynists. That’s not sexy to me, or a man who needs to be redeemed by love. And yes, there were men even then who believed in the equality between the sexes. That is definitely sexy.

 

What’s next for the series? Are we going to see Langdon’s story?

Most assuredly. Keep an eye on Langdon and Amina. They’ll get their HEA in Dare To Love a Duke. Be forewarned, their book is extremely sexy.

 

If you could become any of your heroines from any of your books, and live their story, which would you choose and why?

Honestly, I’m pretty accustomed to being me, though I love aspects of all of my heroines. Cassandra (from From Duke Till Dawn) is a survivor, and Tamsyn (from Counting On a Countess) is extraordinarily brave, so those are qualities I’d love to embrace in myself.

 

Did you always want to become a writer?

Yes! Almost immediately after learning how to read, I started writing. One of my earliest book-length projects, written when I was eleven, included a fantasy epic based on the musical Cats, followed by what we would call “fan fiction” centred around the group Duran Duran. I’m from the Eighties—could you tell? ;)

I went through a few different permutations, thinking I might become a book illustrator, a costume designer, a dramaturge, or an academic, but I always came back to writing, because I never stopped. 

 

Which romance book do you wish you’d written?

I love the wit of Tessa Dare, and the beauty and insight of Julie Anne Long. And I wouldn’t be upset if I, and not Jane Austen, had written Persuasion.

 

If you got transported to the Regency - which three modern inventions or things would you miss the most?

My contact lenses, my medications, and chocolate bars.

 

Looking back to when you were a new author - what piece of advice would you give yourself from everything you’ve learned to date?

Keep going. You’ll face many setbacks and pivots and reinventions, but don’t stop, because the struggle is worth it.


Thank you for joining us, Eva, and for answering the questions. I for one cannot wait to read Dare to Love a Duke!

------------------------

To read my reviews of From Duke Till Dawn and Counting on a Countess, 

click on the book covers below.

                                   

                        

BUY IT NOW!	BUY IT NOW!

------------------------

------------------------

The London Underground / Scandalous Ladies of London Series:       

               

Click to see other books by Eva Leigh

For a shameless libertine and a wily smuggler in the London Underground, marriage is more than convenience—it’s strategy...

Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth, war veteran and newly minted Earl of Blakemere, buries his demons under every sort of pleasure and vice. His scandalous ways have all but emptied his coffers . . . until a wealthy mentor leaves him a sizeable fortune. The only stipulation? He must marry within one month to inherit the money. Kit needs a bride and the bold, mysterious Miss Tamsyn Pearce seems perfect.

Husband hunting isn’t Tamsyn’s top priority—she’s in London to sell her new shipment of illicit goods—but she’s desperate for funds . When a handsome earl offers to wed her and send her back to Cornwall with a hefty allowance, Tamsyn agrees.

But when an unexpected proviso in the will grants Tamsyn control of the inheritance, their arrangement becomes anything but convenient. Now, Kit’s counting on his countess to make his wildest dreams a reality and he plans to convince her, one pleasurable seduction at a time…

Title: Counting on a Countess
Author: Eva Leigh
Series: London Underground / Scandalous Ladies of London
Pages: 384
Genre(s): Historical, Regency, England
Hot Buttons: /

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the second book in the London Underground series by Eva Leigh - coming after From Duke ’Til(l) Dawn. The series follows 3 friends, Alex, Kit and Langdon as they all (hopefully) get their happily ever afters. While Alex and Cassie from the first book do pop up in this book, it’s a very brief cameo and each book so far, can easily be read as a standalone. Interestingly - and in a genius move I can’t help but applaud - Ms Leigh included Maggie and Cam from a previous book of hers. They’ve intrigued me enough to firstly search out the book they were from (Scandal Takes the Stage) and to pop it on my list for future reading. As I said, bravo!

Anyway, back to this particular book. We’ve got Kit - the debonair, wastrel third son who’s a newly minted earl. Or not so minted as the case may be. Until he gets bequeathed a sizeable fortune if only he can find a wife within 30 days. And despite never having been discriminating with his partners, suddenly Kit finds himself dismissing every single eligible girl as wifely material. Until he meets Tamsyn. I suppose with both of them it’s almost insta love - but it’s done so well that you really believe it. Even with the rakish Kit - who incidentally is one of my favourite types of characters - an amiable, carefree (and handsome, obviously!) rogue with hidden depths only our heroine can see.

Tamsyn is also a good character although I had a wee bit more trouble with her than I did Kit. It’s the smuggling you see. After Kit and Tamsyn started developing feelings for each other, it made me feel quite uncomfortable that she was keeping such a big secret from him. That was probably the point, to worry if the pair could overcome the obstacles, but I wanted her to tell him rather than have him discover it.

The pair’s chemistry was palpable and by the time they eventually got to the bedroom shenanigans - which was teased for some considerable time - I was as desperate and horny as they were! But it was worth it in the end.

Smuggling aside, I liked the fact that there wasn’t any faux drama and that both characters were open and mature enough to just be honest with each other about their feelings - after the understandable grumpiness and silence. The whole book felt emotionally true to life and felt believable.

While the writing flowed well and was involving, interesting and kept those pages turning easily - I have one teeny tiny thing that irked me throughout the whole book. Gotten. I HATE that word! I even looked up its history just to appease the rage over having to read it about 17 times in this book. (Yep - I counted!) Apparently it was widely used in the UK up until about the 1500s but it’s not used now and it wasn’t used in the Regency. To my British ears, it comes across as a continually jarring Americanism in a book that otherwise does very well to avoid any anachronisms and feels true to the period. I know that writers write for a modern audience but if you’re going to change sidewalk to pavement and fall to autumn in books set in the UK, I feel you should change this word, too. (Steps down from the soapbox.)

But apart from my mini rant above, I couldn’t help but smile at Kit and Tamsyn’s love story and enjoyed their journey on finding themselves and each other. An enjoyable and likeable book - one I would happily recommend. 4 stars.

------------------------

Buy this book now:

* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

The London Underground / Scandalous Ladies of London Series:

       

         

       

Click to see other books by Eva Leigh

The Duke of Greyland lost his heart – and a princely sum – to a charming, beautiful and destitute widow who, after one passionate night, vanished without a trace. Cassandra Blair grew up on the city streets, picking pockets to survive. Greyland was a rich mark – to be fleeced and forgotten – only she’d never forgotten him.

Years later, chance brings them together again, in a London gaming hell. Grayland is desperate to have her… never suspecting everything about his lover was a lie. But finding herself in dire financial straits, at risk of losing everything, Cassandra has no choice but to beg the man she betrayed for help.

The proud Duke will assist her under one condition: she doesn’t leave his sight until her debts are paid! But can the real Cassandra – the smart, streetwise survivor – steal his heart all over again?

Title: From Duke Till Dawn
Author: Eva Leigh
Series: London Underground / Scandalous Ladies of London
Pages: 389
Genre(s): Historical, Regency, England
Hot Buttons: /

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’m pretty sure that this is the first book I’ve read by Eva Leigh - but it definitely won’t be the last. From the very first page I was hooked. I found myself trying to sneak in a few pages whenever I got the chance and even was quite pleased for a long hospital wait as it meant I had uninterrupted reading time!

This is a slightly unusual premise for a historical romance. We’ve normally got a virginal heroine - probably a lady or at least gentility - and heroes with varying degrees of experience and varying social class. This book pits a duke against a swindler raised on the streets. And one whose first meeting with him was when she fleeced him! I was a bit wary, if I’m honest. Would I like a heroine who wasn’t truthful and honest?

The answer is yes. Very much so in fact. Cassandra is a strong yet vulnerable heroine and while she had done things in her past that were less than savoury - she had a perfectly legitimate reason in her very survival. I loved her honest feelings for Alex and really wanted her to not just survive, but find her happiness, too. When she found herself straddling two worlds and belonging to neither - my heart broke for her.

Alex is my favourite kind of hero. Brooding and grumpy but also dedicated to, and willing to fight for his love. And boy did he love Cassandra. Especially at the beginning, it was swoon worthy stuff and gave your stomach that delicious clutch. As I said, he was strong and (likably) arrogant but he felt unworthy of being loved - and that gave me another reason to root for the pair.

The story was fast paced and very well written. There were only a few very minor Americanisms (sidewalks and blocks being two things that did jump out at me) and I felt the story was nicely absorbed in the time period (which is 1817, by the way).

The love story was great, as was the enjoyment as the two moved from lust and obsession into love. I did feel that once Cassandra moved into Alex’s home, the sexual tension tapered off a little. I would have liked to see some more scenes of simple domesticity between the pair, especially with Alex’s feelings on how people saw him. I was also a little disappointed that they covered up Cassandra’s true identity to pave her way into society. The whole book was about finding your true self and finding someone to love you for who you really are. It just felt a little wrong to then say we’ll now just pretend you’re someone you’re not.

But fear not, it was still a happy ending and the book as a whole was a very worthy read. I’m looking forward to the next in the Scandalous Ladies of London / London Underground series which I’m hoping is the books of Langdon and Ellingsworth.

A recommended read. 4 stars.




As an aside - I personally do not like the word till as a substitute for until. People might say it’s a completely different word to until and actually predates it. I do not care. Most people are using it instead of until and therefore I feel (ridiculously strongly, it appears) that you should write ’til. If I hadn’t been so generously gifted this copy, I honestly might not have picked up this book because of that small thing. No really - I actually am that pedantic and that sad! LOL!

------------------------

Buy this book now:

* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

The London Underground / Scandalous Ladies of London Series:

       

         

       

Click to see other books by Eva Leigh