I absolutely loved this story.  It was a bit confusing to be switching back and forth between 4 years, but that being said...the story itself was wonderful.  Liam was such a tortured hero, and Anna was cold and hard because her hope was gone.

Together they discover themselves all over again and it was well written and touched my heart.  I think you'll enjoy this story.  I received a complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  I honestly loved it!

I attach my Goodreads review link.

Meredith Duran is one of my go to historical romance novelists, and she has not disappointed me with The Sins Of Lord Lockwood. 
What I love about Duran, and about this book, is that she does not shy away from very complex emotions. In this case, we have a very traumatized hero, who feels shame and that he is only good for violence, and nothing else. The heroine likewise has been abandoned several times and this plays into the relationship that the two pick up after four years of separation.
I found myself asking a few times why they couldn't just talk and work through their problems. And each time I asked, Duran worked magic, showing the depth of hurt of the characters, that it was not just something they could move past with an easy apology. And that made the connection between the hero and heroine that much deeper when they do finally mend their relationship.
I also appreciated that even after they make up, it's not just easy, as if love solves all problems. They have to work through the consequences of what pulled them apart in the first place (in this case, a satisfyingly slimy cousin), and there are no easy answers.
The stakes are high, the sex was hot, and the resolution satisfying. Everything I love in a historical, but enough to make it a very unique story and reading experience.

Another page turner from Meredith Duran. Liam is a tortured soul with the scars to prove it.  Anna is his wife who felt abandoned by him on their wedding night. But Liam is back after 4 years and Anna wants answers.  Liam feels that he has no answers for himself or Anna.

This book delves into the dark world of torture, slavery and corrupt politics in 1860’s  Britain. The theme is Liam’s revenge against the persons who caused his harm and Anna’s attempt to bring back his humanity.

The format of the early to middle of the book is back and forth each chapter between Liam and Anna’s courtship and their present reunion. This gave the story added interest. We see their relationship as it developed and how Anna’s past impacted her reaction to Liam’s disappearance. 

I loved this book and this author never disappoints.  The ending was just a bit too pat for me but that is my only complaint. I highly recommend this book to romance readers who don’t mind some graphic descriptions of violence.

As always a fantastic read from an amazing author. I loved the flashbacks and the glimpses into their sweet beginning.

Beautifully written sequel to <i>The Duke of Shadows</i>. Duran has over the years since her first book explored the damaging effects of trauma to a person, particularly violence against women. In her new release though, it is her hero who is the victim and it is the heroine who finds ways to help her partner counter the consequences of violence and find a way back from darkness. This may be one of the best books, if not the best, I've read on coping with PTSD. Many of the ideas explored here about how to live after unspeakable violence to one's self and spirit gave me pause and allowed me to rethink the issue. It's a dark and emotional read, but it is also hopeful and full of life. I think it's easily one of her very best books.

The book also features a very touching romance that feels so believable. The flashbacks really worked for me, and that is not always true for me in many romances. Here though they are interjected at just the right moments when the present day feels overladen with sadness and despair. The past shows us there is hope for Anna ad Liam and that they will find a way forward if they can rediscover why they fell in love in the first place.

I have no criticisms of this book. It was perfectly constructed and beautifully written. I felt teary toward the end and it's a rare romance that makes me cry. Loved it!

Wow.  What a great book.  This was one of those books where you start it and don't want to put it down until you finish it. Great story!  Very likable characters!

Unreservedly 5 Stars for this wonderful historical romance. I will say that I think this one benefits from the groundwork laid in [book:The Duke of Shadows|3112394] and [book:A Lady's Code of Misconduct|30753719]. It can be read as a standalone, but you would be missing the full impact of this story, in my opinion. 

Coming into this story, we knew that the very recently married Lord Lockwood had been abducted and taken to a penal colony. We also knew that his marriage was supposedly a love match and that society thinks he and his wife were on a grand tour during his absence. A question fore front in my mind was why a recently married wife would not have raised the alarm of her husband’s disappearance. While I have found every story I have read of Duran's interesting, there have been times that the romance has felt a little underdeveloped. This was, thankfully not the case here. While a majority of the chapters focus on the book’s present day, it does feature chapter flashbacks to their courtship. The flashbacks are clearly marked and not confusing.

The time of their original courtship was full of hope and promise and two people falling in unacknowledged love. They both had ideas for what their married life would bring, but they thought they had time. Time to understand and grow together as husband and wife. They didn’t, and the wrong words are said. Misunderstandings occur and opportunity is given for a clean abduction. One thing I thought striking was that their story would have been compelling and read-worthy without the separation and misunderstandings, BUT their eventual HEA is all the more sweeter because of it.

Knowing some of the background, it is interesting seeing Anna’s indignation and hurt when they reunite. In her mind, he left her with no word. Her feelings are real and true, and the way the story unfolds and progresses is very well paced and told. I relished reading this every second, and I finished reading with a smile on my face. It is going down as one my absolute favorites, and I can definitely recommend.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pretty standard historical romance. Plot was easy to follow, but it seemed lacking, there was just a "spice" missing though I can't put my finger on what which is why I docked a star. The characters are well written, fairly descriptive, the love scenes aren't excessive or too short. It's just........missing something for me to be rushing back to finish it asap.

There are few authors who can tempt me back into historical romance and Meredith Duran is always one of them. But it certainly doesn’t hurt that the very peculiar situation of Lord Lockwood, or better known as Liam Devaliant—first revealed in ‘The Duke of Shadows’ as the man with an odd temper, an odder past and an obviously missing bride—is one that’s gripping and compelling enough to wait several years for. 

‘The Sins of Lord Lockwood’ is an absolutely unexpected treat, dashing away all my expectations of a wimpy, hiding heroine and a man who constantly pushes her away for his shame at having been kidnapped and imprisoned. Instead, Duran presents a strong heroine capable of matching her husband’s changed mien—riddled with PTSD and a barely-concealed rage that leaks out as near-schizophrenia—and in doing so, has probably crafted one of the most memorable historical heroines I’ve ever had the pleasure of cheering for. 

Lockwood’s and Anna’s present reality is interspersed with the lazy days of their meeting and their courtship 4 years prior, as Duran’s narrative weaves between the pragmatic (though flirty) circumstances of their initial union and the strained volatile interactions of their reconciliation. There are hints of what Liam suffered in Elland, but the details are fuzzy: Duran concentrates on sensation, conflict and pain rather than gives a blow-by-blow account of what really happened, as these help to explain why Lockwood seemingly vacillates between moments of forced indifference and letting the tormented beast loose at unexpected times. 

What surprises me most perhaps, is how Anna comes across, though Duran—which I loudly applaud—writes very contemporary sensibilities into her heroines that make them three-dimensionally relatable. Anna’s capability, her management skills, her fearless leap into the affairs of men, her strength and determination to pull her husband back from the brink left me in awe...here is the ‘modern historical’ female protagonist whom I absolutely dig (though clearly this is not the norm of Victorian England), the woman whose alpha tendencies could probably have helped front the #MeToo movement if given the chance. 

Duran’s superlative prose is as always, a big draw, pulling the nuances of emotions and desire together in a way that makes me stop and savour her written word. That alone is reason enough to put Duran on my reading list, though ‘The Sins of Lord Lockwood’—read it if only to revisit Emma and Julian—is one that I’ll remember for some time to come for a protagonist who stands starkly apart from so many others.

This was a really interesting plot as an English earl, Liam, and a Scottish titled lady meet and decide upon a marriage wherein they both get what they want.  Liam will get his estate’s debts paid, and Anna will have a husband who will allow her to remain independent.  What neither wishes to tell the other before the wedding is that they have feelings for each other.  But on the wedding night, Liam disappeares and doesn’t return to England for four years.  As one might guess, Anna is none too happy about the events that have taken place and demands some answers.
It is here that the plot begins to twist and turn, using flashbacks as a literary device to explain their past and present.  Liam has been through an ordeal, and it might not yet be over.  Anna is attempting to find those answers.  All the while those “ feelings” these two had for each other haven’t gone away, they have changed, and the two are caught in a heated relationship that neither expected.
The additional characters in the story add color and interest and provide background as well as moments of humor too.  This is a really good story, and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy historical romance with some intrigue and danger with some real heat.

I was rather intrigued by this story. It is dark and heartbreaking with perfectly placed light undertones. The story keeps you riveted and on the edge of your seat. It will make you angry and sad, laugh and smile, heartbroken and awed.

"The Sins of Lord Lockwood" was a very intense read (in a good way).   Lord Liam Lockwood was kidnapped on his wedding day.  His wife, thinking that he left her after getting his hands on her dowry, returns to her Scottish island for the next 4 years.  Liam was a young, charming, privileged aristocrat who ended up in a penal colony  and four years later suffers PTSD.    Normally I do not enjoy flashbacks but the flashbacks to Liam and Anna's first meeting, short courtship, and falling in love worked so well because it broke up the intense story of Liam's kidnapping and torture as well as gave insight as to their personalities and their subsequent actions.  The dialogue was witty and not predictable.  The heroine was intelligent, vulnerable, prideful, practical and strong.  She was also contradictory in that she wanted her independence but was also very hurt by Liam's (supposed) abandonment.  Liam, while fighting his demons, knows he loves Anna even when he could have blamed her for assuming the worst in him.   This is not only on the keeper shelf but I now want to go back and re-read "A Lady's Code of Misconduct".

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

*4.5 stars*

A truly excellent historical romance. Strong woman, strong man, STRONG chemistry!

I was *this* close to lighting up that elusive 5th star for The Sins of Lord Lockwood by one of my favorite (and very underrated) historical romance authors, Meredith Duran. If it wasn't for my hatred of flashbacks, I would have done it in a heartbeat. 

I've actually read a couple of historical romances that have vaguely similar themes to this one, heroes with complicated pasts and PTSD from unspeakable things done to them. However, this story still really shone. The plot was beautifully constructed with layers and layers of interest, and two MCs who felt like fully fleshed out characters. I adored the female MC, Anna, who was all fire and pride and just made of strong stuff. She is a woman to admire, and I wish I was as strong as her in my life. I was inspired by her confidence and her willingness to grow and learn. 

The male MC, Liam, was also a man of many facets. He was so much more than a bored aristocrat, and I loved getting to know all of his sides, as dark and sad and resiliant as they were. He and Anna made a glorious couple, and I loved how the book really took its time making the romance develop slowly and naturally. It wasn't rushed, and it was extremely compelling. 

If you like historical romances that make you FEEL and root for revenge, redemption, and second chances at love, than The Sins of Lord Lockwood is for you. Actually, I'd encourage you to read the whole Rules for the Reckless series, and Meredith Duran is an author to watch. 

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

Review courtesy of NetGalley. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Liam Devaliant, Lord Lockwood, is back, and he wants revenge. He didn't make it through the hell that became his life just to let the past go. Liam will bring down the man who nearly cost him his life. Learning that man is his own cousin will not stray Liam from his purpose. When all that is taken care of, he will worry about the bride he left behind. 

Anna has not seen her husband since he left her behind on their wedding night. Years have passed, but Liam has returned. Anna tires of waiting for Liam to seek her out so she seeks him out instead. She wants an explanation for the way things were left, but most importantly she wants Liam to do his duty and provide and heir. Anna has no idea what she is in for, but one thing is for certain, she still has feelings for Liam. Will this be a new start for them or will Liam abandon her once again?

A huge THANK YOU to author Meredith Duran for writing Lockwood's story. I have been waiting so long for it and it did not disappoint! In Ms. Duran's sixth book of the RULES FOR THE RECKLESS series, THE SINS OF LORD LOCKWOOD, she delivers a hero so dangerous, strong and compelling that readers cannot help but fall for him. To top it all off, he is a man who has been to hell and back and survived through it all which makes him even more lovable. Next, she brings us a woman who is willful, courageous and desperately in love with said man, even though she has tried hard to deny it. My heart hurt for Liam and Anna and the time they lost, but they are getting a second chance, and they say time heals all wounds, as does love. Historical romance fans; Ms. Duran's THE SINS OF LORD LOCKWOOD is a MUST READ!!!!

Loved both the h and H in this story, and you really can’t go wrong with Meredith Duran, always a reliable storyteller.  Our wonderful H is a new bridegroom, kidnapped and transported from England , leaving his bride without a word.  She assumes he’s abandoned her after an argument and though distraught, carries on with life. He returns almost 4 years later, but doesn’t contact her, though he has been in London several months. She comes to London to confront him, interfering with his plans to confront and punish the man responsible for his kidnapping, his cousin.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t tell her what happened, and is instead confrontational and angry. Both had been falling in love prior to their separation, though they had agreed to a marriage of convenience, and are physically drawn to one another.  I can only say I’m grateful the secret was revealed earlier in the story than I expected, so they were able to join forces in pursuit of vengeance.  Overall, an excellent story, definitely worth a read.

Exactly the type of novel I needed in the midst of a reading slump: fast paced, excellently thought out, deeply passionate, dark romance with just enough brevity to make you remember you're enjoying the novel you're lost in and not merely dwelling in darkness for no reason.   It was the type of read that consumes you until you've staid up hours later than you intended just so you could get an extra chapter in.  The story and characters originate in the book prior," A Lady's Code for Misconduct", and while technically you don't need to read in order, you really should.  If for no other reason that you're guaranteed 2 extremely well written romantic stories- each with their own set of deliciously unique characters and love story that will leave you swooning for days.

Without giving too much away I will say this: our hero is kidnapped and forced to undergo three years of brutal treatment and our heroine is a strong willed, independent wife who carries the burden of thinking her husband abandoned her on their wedding night.  They come together when he returns to London and they have tons of messiness to work through.  They do it in a ways that are humorous, hurtful, sad, but ultimately passionate. They are strong, independent, flawed characters and their love story is breath taking.  In fact, Anna's speech to Lockwood as she forces him to confront his demons is quite possibly the most romantic speech I've ever read in a romance novel.  Do yourself a favor: Read It.

And now I need to take a break before reading the other two books on my Netgalley shelf because I know there's little chance they'll compare and I don't want to be overly harsh in critiquing them.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

This was a strong romance! Duran's previous release (A Lady's Code to Misconduct) blew me away, so I was highly anticipating this book. I wasn't *quite* as wowed by it as the previous book, but in comparison to the competition, this was a high-quality romance. She writes interesting characters who are more multi-layered than usual, and her plots often involve some historical tidbit that feels more unique and fresh. If you like second chance romances or romances with an estranged married couple, you'll really enjoy this!

This was another excellent entry in Meredith Duran’s series, “Rules for the Reckless.”  As always, the heroine is smart and brave.  I always enjoy that she has such strong heroines who rise above the limitations of their Victorian existence.  THe hero, Liam Devaliant, suffered a terrible fate due to the jealousy of his cousin.  He spent four years being tortured and worked  as slave labor in an illegal labor camp in Australia.  Now he’s back and out for revenge as well as trying to cope with PTSD.  He doesn’t want to deal with his wife or have her pity him.  But she’s not going to put up with that attitude for long.

Make sure you have time when you open up this book as you won’t want to put it down.

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

Anna has got some lady balls, “don’t make me follow you, Liam.” She said it very neutrally. “I gave you eight hours. That’s all you will get.” Liam is sometimes a man in denial:
                  That won him a snort. “You were snoring for over an hour.”
                 “I don’t snore.”
                 “Louder than old Murray, in fact.”
I really enjoyed this book, I loved Liam and Anna they were both good for each other, and Anna doesn't put up with Liam's crap which makes her perfect for him.