Iris Bennington is furious when she discovers her younger brother is following the instructions found in the acclaimed advice columns on How to be a Gentleman. The so-called "advice" is more likely to turn her brother into a scoundrel than a true gentleman. Iris decides to locate the author of the columns and confront him. Merritt Steel, the Earl of Ashby, cannot help but be amused by the slip of a woman who comes calling. Unwilling to let such a delightful potential conquest go, he proposes a wager: bring him anyone off the street and he can pass them off as a gentleman. It's a bargain she readily accepts—but with a twist. Their bargain proves to be a greater challenge than either anticipated. Merritt finds it near impossible to keep his hands off Iris, and she begins to see the undeniable appeal of ungentlemanly behavior.
This was a light-hearted and amusing story that was quick to read and enjoyable. I really liked it and look forward to reading more from this author. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I am a big fan of this author because she can write romance as well as mystery so well.

This is the first story in her brand new series, Lords of Vice. The story is fast moving and very fun, while the characters are charming, entertaining and intriguing.

If you’re looking for a quick and fun read, this is just the book for you.

Melanie for b2b

I really enjoyed Iris and Merritt's story!

Iris is trying to do right by her brother, whom she practically raised, but he keeps sinking himself deeper in vice by following the dictates of a newspaper columnist. She soon find the man and they strike a bargain. Iris soon learns that a woman doesn't always want to be around a perfect gentleman ;).

I loved watching these two banter back and forth. There were fireworks between them from their first meeting. I loved watching Merritt slowly change Iris' mind about what the perfect gentleman was like!

I can't wait to read the next book in the Lords of Vice series!

So I wasn't sure of this book at first, but oh my, this was a cute book. I really enjoyed the banter between the pair and I found humor in the fact she ended up liking the 'bad' boy!!

Interesting story, but I didn't feel the connection between the characters.

I got this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The female lead, Iris, raised her brother from when he was about 9 years old and both parents had died within a year. She spoiled him. Now he is becoming an adult and loves reading a scandalous paper which gives advice - advice how Gentleman should act. 

Merritt Steele, Earl of Ashby, owner of this scandalous paper only inherited his title from a far cousin a year ago and doesnt feel like an aristocrat himself. But he has a sister who dreams of a season and being introduced in society.

Well it's easy to say what this book is about and it was, unfortunately, quite boring and quite predictable. I knew from the beginning who the blackmailer might be. And that Iris' disguise will be discovered, was predictable too. 

Nice average read, nothing special in my opinion.

I always love reading Robyn DeHart's books and this one was a great addition to her collection!

Lady Iris Bennington, sister of the Earl of Nickerson, is a rule follower who has never broken the rules society has set down, until Merritt. She has given up the dreams all young debutantes have; have a come out, be courted, fall in love, marry and have children. Iris is a woman that can take care of herself and knows her mind, but under the surface there are insecurities that make her incredibly relatable.

Merritt Steele, owner of the newspaper the Daily Scandal, is the son of a merchant that has built his wealth from the ground up and has a strong dislike of the aristocracy. He sees them as over indulged and not terribly bright and writes his paper with strong satire, which often contains grains of scandal. Like some kind of cosmic joke, he inherits an earldom and fights becoming one of “them.”

Through a wager Iris and Merritt are brought together, each wanting something from the other for their respective siblings; Merritt’s sister Lucy needs to be tutored in the ways of the ton and Iris’s brother, Jasper, needs to be shown the error of his ways. Iris has a lot to lose and Merritt has a lot to gain if he would only get out of his own way. They keep They keep each other on their toes and they find they are reconsidering their preconceived ideas of the other. Iris must come to terms with disappointment and let go of a responsibility she has held tightly to her heart. Merritt must let go of his past to embrace what potentially be his own heaven on earth.

This is the first in the new series Lords of Vice and I am excited for the stories to come. Ms. DeHart has created the Ladies of Virtue and they are an incredible group of women with self-protection skills and they have a duel identity. To the public they provide money for the needy and make society a better place. The flip side has them stopping pickpockets, rescuing mistreated servants, and working to improve working conditions in factories and work houses. Because they have the duel identities they are all very careful to maintain their reputations so that they do not cause harm to their fellow Ladies.

We are introduced to Iris’s best friends, Agnes and Harriet. They are all members of the Ladies of Virtue. They decide amongst themselves that they are going to reform men of the ton. The concept for the series is brilliant in that it will bring each of them their HEA. Together the three friends are fun, feisty and loyal to a fault. We are given charming glimpses of both Agnes and Harriet that leave you wanting to know more. This was a delightful first book in a series and the groundwork was laid for the coming stories without bogging this story down in details and background. We watch Lucy discover her heart and Jasper start to grow. We see Iris let go of her insecurities while Merritt hold on to Iris and not his past. Brilliantly written and an excellent page turner.

I give this 4.5 stars.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
reviewed by Lisa for Buried Under Romace

Good Read, romantic, scoundrel needs reforming. She is the girl to do it!
I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
Carolintallahassee 👒

This is the first book in a new series that sounds promising and entertaining. Maybe the need to introduce characters and circumstances that will play a role in the next installments of this series made the beginning a little slower and I had difficulties connecting with the story at first, but then the romance took firm hold of the plot and I ended up enjoying this book very much. Looking forward to the next installments of the series.

I have to say that I loved the Ladies of Virtue!  It is an interesting dynamic of the story.  I though it was a fun cute read but I would not necessarily call the new earl a Scoundrel.  I found the brother to be super annoying and his actions towards the end should not have been easily forgiven.  Overall it was a cute story and funny to see her continuing with the bet.  I will definitely check out the rest of the series as they come out!

The Scoundrel and the Lady (Lords of  Vice) By Robyn DeHart
Definitely a buy book. Well I almost stopped reading and I would of  been very sorry! It took some time but the story picked up and then remained a good story line and a very enjoyable read! I will say it this way, this author is very talented and her worlds are very creative, sometimes it takes time for the book to actually get going and this was definitely one of that type. So if you can handle a slow start turning into a good read this is a book for you! I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna

Iris has looked after her brother since their parents died right before she was set to make her debut. She's always put him first so when he returns home from school and starts misbehaving, she makes it her mission to correct his ways. She discovers the cause of his ways to be a series of articles entitled "How to be a Gentleman" written by Merritt, the owner of the newspaper it is published in. She decides to confront him.

Merritt has recently become the Earl of Ashby when a distant relative died and left him the earldom. He is in charge of his younger sister, and needs to find a lady to help with her debut into Society. When Iris confronts him about the newspaper, he makes a wager with her that he can pass off anyone as a gentleman if she can turn his sister into someone the ladies of Society won't turn on. The more time they spend together, the more scandalous things become. Will Iris be ruined?

I enjoyed this story but there were a few things that threw me off. Iris was raised in society and there is really no indication of a rebellious side to her nature. However, on more than one occasion she allows Merritt to kiss her and each time things go farther than the time before. It's not behavior that is typical. The storyline is a unique one and I thoroughly enjoyed it and the characters. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Iris has been raising her brother Jasper since her parents passed and his behavior is driving her nuts.When she finds out he has been taking advice from a newspaper she confronts the owner Merritt.
I did not like her brother at all he treated her badly.I also did not buy her and Merritt together just did not feel the connecting between them.It was an interesting read but i did not love it.

Many years ago I used to read Robyn DeHart and then I  lost track of her. I am so happy that I have found her again. I had forgotten how much i enjoyed her books. This book is just another example.  
The story is about Iris and Merritt.   She is the daughter of an Earl, independent, strong minded and who is protective of the brother whom she practically raised.
Merritt is the son of a merchant, a publisher, with distant relationships to the "ton". His newspaper is a scandal rag that exposes the "ton" in different ways. So when he inherits an earldom, it throws a monkeywrench into his work.
Iris confronts Merritt about the influence  his paper is having on her brother. A battle of wills persue, turning into respect and love. 
I really enjoyed this and look forward to the next in this series. DeHart and then I  lost track of her. I am so happy that I have found her again. I had forgotten how much i enjoyed her books. This book is just another example.  
The story is about Iris and Merritt.   She is the daughter of an Earl, independent, strong minded and who is protective of the brother whom she practically raised.
Merritt is the son of a merchant, a publisher, with distant relationships to the "ton". His newspaper is a scandal rag that exposes the "ton" in different ways. So when he inherits an earldom, it throws a monkeywrench into his work.
Iris confronts Merritt about the influence  his paper is having on her brother. A battle of wills persue, turning into respect and love. 
I really enjoyed this and look forward to the next in this series.

Thanks Entangled Publishing, LLC and netgalley for this ARC.

Give this one time to get good. This novel will have you laughing, teary, and happy be the end.

This was my first book I read by Robyn DeHart and she knocked it out of the park! I could not put this book down. I read in on sitting. I love books that bring the characters to life that come from different backgrounds and obstacles. Robyn decidedly did that with Iris and Merritt in this book. I look forward to reading more books by Robyn DeHart.

This novel was so charming! It did not include a lot of the run of the mill tropes that often get squeezed into historical romance. The male protagonist Merritt, is an Earl who only recently received his title, was definitely prejudiced to those in the social circles he began to matriculate into. This included the lovely, responsible, and bold Iris. As the characters developed in the plot, I loved the way the author weaved little moments from their pasts into the story. They really enriched the adventure! However, I did wish there was more passion and connection between the two, as I would have enjoyed to read about with such daring main characters. Additionally, the wager was a bit far-fetched for the time the book was set in, but I appreciated the freshness of the ideas DeHart incorporated. Especially the brother! He was...interesting. Otherwise, the novel was a quick, fast-paced one. I look forward to piecing together more about the cliff-hanger in her next book!

I really liked this fun, fast-paced and steamy read.  Iris plans of confronting the man writing columns on how to be a gentleman when it is poorly influencing her brother.  She goes to confront Merritt and instead of getting what she wants she ends up making an interesting bet.  Who will win, perhaps both of them?  Entertaining read with great chemistry and a great story.

Advice columns causing trouble in one's life, can also bring love. I enjoyed the moments of humor in this historical romance.