Josephine Potter knows she must retain her employment to provide for her younger sisters and to maintain the house. While a young woman working as an accountant – at a hotel no less – could be frowned upon by some, it’s still a respectable way to earn a living. No matter what a certain duke might think. Besides, Josephine has a few rules she lives by: Don’t rely on others, don’t accept money from someone you don’t know, and never allow a man to control your life. But when she is fired from her job, Josephine may have to bend a few rules. Devon, the Duke of Snowdon, has never met a more bull-headed woman than Josephine Potter! The Potter sisters are granddaughters of an Earl and should not have to work for a living. So despite Josephine’s arguments, Devon insists she end her employee status immediately and accept a stipend for her and her sisters. When she is then fired, she accuses him of meddling in her life…and things are about to heat up despite the cold winter weather. As they work together to figure out why Devon’s hotel is losing money, a mutual attraction that won’t be denied, grows between them. But when rumors of impropriety abound, can Josephine’s reputation be saved…or will her life be destroyed by scandal?
This is the third story in a trilogy about sisters. I’ve not read the other two so I had no expectations. This story was ok. Unfortunately, this book embodies what I don’t like about novellas. The story was really rushed and I just didn't’ buy the love of the two main characters.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Josephine Potter is an accountant at a nearby hotel. It pays the bills and help take care of her and her sisters. Things are not going so well lately, but Josephine is determined to push on. When Devon, the Duke of Snowdon, shows up telling her to quit her job under orders of her new guardian, Josephine is less than impressed.

Devon is here to help a friend. He must stop in and check on the man's relatives, the Potter sisters, then he can take care of his hotel business in town. From the start, Josephine is trouble. She refuses to listen to reason at every turn, but the more time Devon spends with her, the more he comes to like Josephine's spiritedness. What will Devon do when it's time for him to leave?

THE DUKE WHO CAME TO TOWN concludes the HONORABLE SCOUNDREL'S series by author Sophie Barnes. Josephine is the eldest Potter sister and very set in her ways. She has taken what life has thrown at her and done the best she could with it. I admire her strength and tenacity. Devon is in for a surprise when he meets Josephine. The chemistry between them was sizzling and I really enjoyed the interaction. THE DUKE WHO CAME TO TOWN is a fun-filled read.

I loved how feisty she was and how enamored he was with her. A nice story with a happy ending.

The third book in the Honorable Scoundrels Series is as wonderful as the previous two. This novella features the oldest Potter sister Josephine. She is a splendid heroine, an example of a woman who is determined to make a better life for herself and her sisters. The men in her family have not been the best at providing for the future. She is passionate, intelligent and fiercely independent.

Devon, the Duke of Snowden is doing a favor for a friend. Checking on the Potter sisters to let them know their new guardian is going to support them and help ease their way back into Society. Being a Duke all his adult life he doesn't understand what he said that made her angry and rude. He just wants to give her money and a new place to live.

Josephine is livid, how dare he come into her home and demand she accept his money and sponsorship into Society. She doesn't need any help, especially from an arrogant, overbearing man, even if he is a Duke.

Sophie has done it again. The story of the last Potter sister is a perfect example of why I read Historical Romance. Witty, Fiesty, Intelligent characters that you will love. Sizzling romance with hot sexual tension and a love for a lifetime. I really, really enjoyed this Series and highly recommend Sophie's books.

This is the third, and presumably final, novella/novelette in the Honorable Scoundrels series. I say final because the series has been the story of the three Potter sisters finally finding their happily ever afters, after having been left destitute by their late and not much lamented father.

There are only three sisters, so unless cousins start popping up, only three stories in the series.

Each of the stories in the series has been a delectable little treat, and this final story in the series is no exception.

Josephine Potter is left at home in London while her next sister Louise goes to the north of England to take up a position as a governess in The Governess who Captured His Heart, and their youngest sister Eve travels southwest to spend the holidays with a married friend who can help her make connections, if not in the haut ton, at least connections that will lead to a respectable marriage in The Earl Who Loved Her. (All three stories take place at the same time, but none of them know what really happens to the others. At least not until afterwards.)

Josephine stays home in London because she has a job. A rather surprising position as an accountant for a middle-class hotel

But her job isn’t half as surprising as the man who unexpectedly pays her a visit. Since her family’s fall in fortunes, a duke, any duke, is the last sort of person she expects to see in their slightly down-at-heel townhouse. Even more surprisingly, Devon, the Duke of Snowdon, claims to be a representative of the Potter sisters’ guardian – a man who has never cared a fig for their state or status or even if they were managing to keep body and soul together.

Which they learned to do without his nonexistent help, thankyouverymuch.

But their old guardian is dead, and the new holder of his title and obligations feels obligated to take care of the Potter sisters, not just by a meager stipend, but actually in the style they should be entitled to as great-granddaughters of a Viscount.

Which means that the Duke of Snowdon arrives at Josephine’s threadbare house and insists that she quit her job and rely on the charity of a man she has never met, and whose father couldn’t be bothered to spare her and her sisters the merest thought.

Josephine is having none of it, and can’t be bothered to be polite about it. Nor should she be. But when her job suddenly disappears, she’s absolutely certain that the Duke of Snowdon must be behind her sudden reversal of fortunes.

And he is, but not in the way that she believes. Now Devon needs Josephine’s help to find out why his investment in a respectable middle-class hotel is losing money instead of making it.

Working together, they find not just the true source of Devon’s problem, but also that their best true match is with each other.

Escape Rating B: This series is fun, brief, and meant to be read all together. Three lunch breaks might just about do it – these stories are quite lovely and equally short.

One of the things that worked well in the first two books is the way that the unlikely romances occurred in equally brief circumstances. Events had to proceed quickly because there was a naturally limited amount of time for the couple to fall irrevocably in love in spite of occupying rather different social strata and economic circumstances.

The duke’s coming to town is not similarly constrained. Devon could spend as much time in London as he needed or wanted, in spite of his visit not occurring during the Season or when Parliament was in session. That the element of time constraint was missing meant that this story could have been longer, and I wish it had been. In the vastness of London there was plenty of opportunity for more background and an equal amount of time for the romance to develop.

So while I enjoyed The Duke Who Came to Town, I think I would have liked this one a bit better if it had been a longer story. Which is, in its own way, a different kind of compliment to the author. I liked these people so much that I wanted to spend more time with them.

But if you are looking for a series of sweet little treats to sweep you away for short breaks during the busy holiday season, you can’t go wrong with these Honorable Scoundrels.

Having read the previous book in this series (The Earl Who Loved Her) and enjoyed it, I was pleased to pick up The Duke Who Came To Town too. This is the story of the eldest sister, Josephine, who works as an accountant in order to maintain her sisters in some sort of respectability. Of course, if you have read the previous two books in the series, you will already know that Louise and Eve have already found their true loves, and this conclusion to the trilogy sees the three sisters eventually reunited, happy at last.

At 84 pages, this is on the short side even for a novella. The romance feels impossibly rushed and frankly unlikely; it’s straining my suspension of belief that a duke would bestir himself to check personally on the welfare of a friend’s ward, much less that he would take one look at her and decide he wants her in his bed so badly he’d better marry her.

Yes, that’s pretty much what happened. The whole story takes place over about five days, by the end of which Josephine and her duke have decided they are madly in love and absolutely must get married.

You’ll have noticed that I don’t name the duke. This is because, the day after finishing the book, I can’t actually remember it. He was that unmemorable.

I honestly think this would be a much more satisfying read if it was extended and some genuine conflict introduced. I’m trying to think of what to compare this series to, and the only thing I can think of is the prawn crackers at a Chinese restaurant. Light, fluffy, tasty, but in the end far too meagre a meal and ultimately unsatisfying. Three stars are used to indicate ‘it was okay’ and that sounds about right.

It looked like Josephine would be alone for the holidays. The older of her two younger sisters, Louise, had just accepted a governess position in the far north. Her youngest sister, Eve, was visiting her friend in hopes of making some good connections and meet eligible gentlemen.

Although the great-granddaughter of the Earl of Priorsbridge, Josephine, and her sisters, were in financial straits. Their father had squandered what money they had after the death of their mother. Now orphaned, they needed income. Josephine was an accountant, and now Louise was a governess. Anything to save enough to give their youngest sister Eve the Season she deserved and the chance to meet a good man.

Returning home from work, she finds a strange carriage parked at her door. When the occupant emerges it is the Duke of Snowdon, a man she doesn’t know. Claiming to be sent by the Earl of Priorsbridge makes Josephine suspicious. What would make her uncle, until now an absent guardian, take an interest all of a sudden?

Upon learning of the death of her uncle and that the Earl in question is her cousin, explains a few things. She invites the Duke into the townhouse and that is where it all begins.

An Interesting Tale

As with the first two books, The Governess Who Captured His Heart and The Earl Who Loved Her, the author has woven an interesting tale with characters you feel you know from the outset. This series has been excellent and I would recommend these three novellas to anyone looking for an enjoyable few hours read.

Reviewed for LnkToMi iRead in response to a complimentary copy of the novella provided by the publisher in hopes of an honest review.

London

Josephine Potter has recently seen both of her sisters leave their home. Louise left to take a governess position in the north and Eve has been invited to a house party for the holidays. The girls’ great-grandfather was an earl, but their own father lost all of their money before his death. Now, Josephine works hard as an accountant to pay for the townhouse where they live.

As she arrives home one day with just enough firewood to take the chill off her room, Devon, the Duke of Snowdon, approaches her. She is quite surprised when she learns that her guardian, Edward, the Earl of Priorsbridge, whom she has never shown any interest in the girls, has now asked the Duke to check on her. She finds that her guardian has passed away and his son is the one asking about her and wishes to see that she and her sisters are cared for. Busy in his new role as Earl, her cousin, Edward, has asked Devon to tell Josephine that he will give her 75 pounds a month but she and her sisters must resign their jobs. Infuriated at this demand, Josephine insists that Devon leave her home.

The next day, she is dismissed from her job at the Park View Hotel. Devon realizes he is inadvertently responsible as, being part owner, he has just found the hotel was losing honey and reluctantly agreed to reduce the staff. Josephine tells Devon that the place had been run on the cheap which had lost them business. She promises him to help get the hotel running well again if he lets her continue with her job. They agree but she has to accept her cousin’s stipend and she must stay at the Duke’s house for the holidays with his sister as chaperone.

The arrangement works well. Josephine and Devon’s sister get along very well and Devon realizes that he is falling in love with her. Could there be a future for the two of them?

What a delightful romance. Sophie Barnes has quickly become a huge favorite author of mine and I cannot wait to read more of her books. I hope others will discover her fabulous talent and read her books as well.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I do like an independent and forthright female in a story and in this story there is Josephine Potter. Josephine is employed as an accountant to enable her to care for her two sisters. She is just about managing this but then Devon, the Duke of Snowdon appears on her doorstep. He is calling on her as requested by her cousin, an Earl. The more Devon sees of Josephine, the more attracted to her, he becomes. However, because of her independent nature, he had to plan his courtship very carefully. An enjoyable read for when you have a few hours to spare. It is a novella. I received a copy from Netgalley and have voluntarily reviewed it. This is my honest review.

The Duke Who Came To Town by Sophie Barnes is Book Three in "The Honorable Scoundrels". This the story Josephine Potter and Devon, the Duke of Snowdon. I have read (and loved) the other books in this series but think this can be a standalone book.
Josephine is the older sister who has to take care of her sisters. Doing so has brought her to being an account for a hotel. When she is let go she argues with Devon who has insisted that she should be work as she is the granddaughter of a Viscount.
I loved watching their story play out and just added to my love of this series.
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By far this is my favourite of the trio -The Honorable Scoundrels series.
This is Josephine's story the eldest Potter sister. The death of their parents was a setback for their financial situation, when Josephine was let go of her accounting position she’s almost sure it was the doing of the infuriating man Devon the Duke of Snowdon, after chastising her that she need not work. Letting her know that it’s best she pack her bags and come live with him, with a stipend like some sort of kept woman. Even though she’s attracted to the pompas man she can’t trust him, sometimes fate has different plans.

Devon can’t deny his attraction to Josephine and can’t really believe how stubborn the lady can be. When she accuses him of playing dirty of having her fired ( after she finds out he’s owner of the hotel she worked at) he’s furious! Things just might get a little to hot for comfort when they both come to the conclusion that someone is sabotaging his hotel and they have to work together to find the culprit.

This was a well paced romance, enjoyable characters with witty banter and their chemistry was believable. Josephine had to get over some trust issues and Devon is the dominering type, both have to get over these issues and do some give and take but love does come to the forefront and they achieve the ultimate goal their HEA. A quick enjoyable read. Highly recommend the whole series and all of Sophie Barnes books.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher through NetGalley for my honest unbiased opinion.

I was grateful to receive a free copy of the Duke Who Came To Town. What a great read. I really loved the chemistry between Josephine and Devon, and it was a pleasure to see their relationship develop. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family.

I am voluntarily submitting my review after receiving an ARC of this ebook via NetGalley.

This is a short and sweet novella that is easily read in one sitting. While it is the last in the series, I did not even realize I had missed anything until I reached the very end, so it can be read as a standalone book. (I will, however, most likely end up going back and reading the others now since I did enjoy this one.) The plot is entertaining and the characters well-drawn for the short length of the work, but while the chemistry between the characters is undeniable, the heat level is pretty low so if you are looking for something steamy, this is probably not the book for you. If you are looking for a short and sweet historical romance with a HEA that you can read in an afternoon, this book will suit.

Josephine Potter has to keep her job to support her sisters. Then the unexpected happened and she had to make some changes in her life. Devon, the Duke of Snowdon, is a big part of that change. I liked Josephine and Devon. Both are strong characters who go for what they want and both have to make some changes as thing change. Josephine is the last Potter to find her HEA. This is a nice series with interesting characters and fun romances.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

This is the last book of the Honorable Scoundrels series that centers around three impoverished sisters. Their great-grandfather was an Earl and they are the wards of the Earl of Priorsbridge. However, they have never met the Earl and he has made no effort to contact them or provide for them in the year since their father passed away until now.
The Potter sisters are granddaughters of an Earl who should not have to work for a living, but Josephine knows she must do something they’ll be living on the streets and starving. As the oldest sister Josephine knows must retain her employment as an account at the hotel to provide for her younger sisters and to maintain the house they now live in. It’s not the mansion in Mayfair where lived, but it’s a roof over their heads. One of Josephine’s rules is never to rely on anyone.
When the Devon, the Duke of Snowden show up he insists Josephine end her employee status immediately and accept a stipend for her and her sisters. She wants to be independent and he thinks she should be home not working. She then finds herself fired and she blames Devon for meddling in her life. In the end they work together to find out why his hotel is losing money. Devon has never met a more bull-headed woman than Josephine nor has he met a woman he wants more than her either. Things start to heat up between the two and her reputation comes into question. This is a short novella where Devon comes to the rescue and tries to sweep Josephine off her feet and rescue the Potter sisters at the same time.
This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

This is a quick read so it has to have pretty much of an insta-love plot line in which the characters know each other for only a few days and the Duke is already contemplating marriage. The story has a mix of a modern feel with a heroine who proudly is working to provide for herself after her father lost the family’s money. She works as an accountant for a hotel, but an arrogant duke insists that she quits her job so she won’t embarrass her guardian, a friend of his. That does not go over well and romance ensues. If you like novellas where there isn’t much plot development due to space constraints, this was a fun read.

I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how strong Josephine was and how Devon had to learn she was no pushover. Their story was the final book in this series and I highly recommend them all.

This is the last of three novellas in the Honorable Scoundrels series and it is absolutely lovely. It is well paced, excellently written and Ms. Barnes manages to do the almost impossible – she manages to provide a truly romantic story filled with fully developed and likable characters while also wrapping up the series with all of the siblings and their spouses – in a novella. All I can say is – well done!

The series follows three sisters who are gently-born but impoverished. They are the great-granddaughters of a member of the aristocracy, but they have fallen on hard times. Their grandfather went into the practice of the law and was very successful – accumulating wealth and estates. Their father, however, didn’t have the acumen his father did and wasn’t successful. Then, after his wife died, he took to drink and eventually had to leave the practice. By the time he passed away, there was nothing left. The estates were sold, the Mayfair mansion was gone, dowries spent and hope for a happy future was crushed. Josephine, the oldest sister, is our heroine in this novella. Louise, the middle sister, was featured in the first novella and Eve, the youngest sister was featured in the second novella. They are very close-knit, lovely, caring, intelligent and independent ladies and watching them find their HEA is a great delight.

All three of these novella’s all take place at basically the same time. Louise leaves on her way north one day, Eve leaves to visit her friend the next day and Josephine’s adventures start that same afternoon.

It is a very cold and windy day in London when Josephine is walking home after seeing her sister Eve off to visit her friend. She’s wondering how much longer she can keep them all afloat on her salary as a bookkeeper. Louise's taking a job as a governess will help greatly, but it will still be a tight squeeze. Her hands are nearly frozen as she approaches her front door – and spots a grand coach parked at the curb. That is certainly an out-of-place sight in her neighborhood. As she moves to her door and tries to use her frozen fingers to fish her door key from her pocket, the coach door opens and a tall, elegant gentleman steps out and approaches her. After he convinces her to let him enter her home, she learns that he is there as a representative of their absentee guardian to see that they are well. He is dismayed to learn that Louise has taken a job as a governess and that Josephine is employed in a job normally held by a man. Those things reflect badly on the reputation of their guardian and so the gentleman informs Josephine she’ll have to tell Louise to come home and she’ll also have to quit her employment as well. Josephine is incensed by his arrogance and tells him he is a pompous ass – and it gets better from there.

Devon, the Duke of Snowden is immediately attracted to the beautiful Josephine, but he must convince her to take the stipend being offered by his friend and her guardian. Her guardian cannot attend to the task himself because his father, her previous guardian, has died and he’s taking over the title – and discovering he has wards. So, he asks Devon to check on them.

Josephine refuses to leave her position because the men in her life have all proven untrustworthy. She’ll depend on herself from now on. Yet, two days later she loses her employment because the owner has told the manager to cut costs. What follows is a lovely romance story. Devon pursues, but Josephine is very hesitant. How will he win her over? He’ll have to figure out how to extract the real man from the arrogant Duke. Can he? Read this lovely, lovely novella to find out!

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

Third book in the The Honorable Scoundrels series, The Duke Who Came To Town was another great read.
Well written and compelling characters as well as an interesting story that hooked me from the beginning, it was all very enchanting. It's sweet, funny, romantic and I loved that this one does have an epilogue and we get to see how the other sisters are doing, which made me really happy.
I'd definitely recommend not just this book but all three novellas in the series.

Publisher's Description:

She doesn’t want to be a kept woman…

Josephine Potter knows she must retain her employment to provide for her younger sisters and to maintain the house. While a young woman working as an accountant – at a hotel no less – could be frowned upon by some, it’s still a respectable way to earn a living. No matter what a certain duke might think. Besides, Josephine has a few rules she lives by: Don’t rely on others, don’t accept money from someone you don’t know, and never allow a man to control your life. But when she is fired from her job, Josephine may have to bend a few rules…

Devon, the Duke of Snowdon, has never met a more bull-headed woman than Josephine Potter! The Potter sisters are granddaughters of an Earl and should not have to work for a living. So despite Josephine’s arguments, Devon insists she end her employee status immediately and accept a stipend for her and her sisters. When she is then fired, she accuses him of meddling in her life…and things are about to heat up despite the cold winter weather. As they work together to figure out why Devon’s hotel is losing money, a mutual attraction that won’t be denied, grows between them.

But when rumors of impropriety abound, can Josephine’s reputation be saved…or will her life be destroyed by scandal?

My Thoughts:

This is the third book in this series about the Potter sisters and the only one I read in the correct order. I accidentally read books one and two out of order but it did not seem to matter at the time. I am glad that I read this one last though. Although reading it out of order may be a mistake it can stand on it's own through almost all of the story.
Josephine Potter has been working at the local hotel as an accountant to maintain household expenses and help take care of her two younger sisters. Although working at any position is frowned upon by the gentry, it is imperative that Josephine maintain her position.
Devon, the Duke of Snowdon having met Josephine, decides he has never met a more stubborn woman. He must have her, but doing so would ruin the lady and that is not an option.
When the rumors of impropriety spread will he be able to save Josephine's reputation?
Although this short sweet novella does blend with the other two in the series, it is not necessary to read the other two to enjoy most of the story because the connection is not apparent until near the end. The three novellas finally come together to blend near the end of this story.
I gave this story 4.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 1 of 5 flames as this story contains only sweet kisses and no real intimacy.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher to read via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.