I really liked this premise and was pretty excited to get to it. Sadly, it just wasn’t for me. 

I liked Marlena and Rath well enough. They’re both stubborn and they have some fun banter together. I felt like the chemistry between them was told, not shown. There are a lot of other characters, but everyone was just so bland. Well, except Justina, but I don’t have energy to deal with her. 

Plot wise it was slllllllllllloooooooooow. A whole lot of nothing happens in this story. The build up is quite small and by the time the reveal happens, it was a relief. Somehow, I felt compelled to finish this book. 

Overall, it was the characters that kept me reading, but I have no desire to read anything else in this series...and mostly likely nothing else from this author. 

**Huge thanks to St. Martin’s paperbacks for providing the arc free of charge**

Rath, Duke of Rathburne, is trying to make up for a mistake he partaked in in his youth with his 2 friends. They earned the moniker Rakes of St. James and even though they thought their prank had not hurt anyone, they could not understand the far reaching consequences of their indiscretion. In her own small way Miss Marlene Fast wants them held accountable and had secretly been writing a scandal sheet about rakes. She's beyond horrified when she learns her new guardian is none other than the Rath, Duke of Rathburne, the same man she'd been writing about for the past 3 years. What would he do if he found out she was behind Miss Truth's scandal sheet?

I liked Marlena. She was a loyal friend and had only kept writing the scandal sheet after the first year to help her dear friends who needed the income. Her interactions with Rath were amusing and bold for a young lady, but that's what made her unique. Rath was not really a rake anymore and he was trying to do the right thing by his ward even though his attraction to Marlena grew each time he saw her. The plot moved along, but there was a lot of narrative that could have been pared down. It was a relief when Marlena and Rath expressed their feelings for each other, but there was still a secret between them and that lead to misunderstandings. I found the ending satisfying for all the subplots. Fans of regency romance will definitely enjoy this book.

Rath, the Duke of Rathburne, has agreed to become the guardian for a young lady, Marlena Fast, as she is the ward of his father’s best friend who is extremely ill. He remembers meeting her once when she thrust a frog in his face. She was 12. Now, unknown to him, she writes the Miss Honora Truth’s weekly scandal sheet. Years ago, her best friend’s sister Veronica had to marry an older man due to his wager. The scandal sheet is a way to get back at the three Dukes and give some money to her friend Eugenia and her sister. Marlena doesn’t like Rath being her guardian until she gets to know the real man. She loves him, but how to explain the scandal sheet? Read this cute book to find out. I enjoyed it and it was nice to see how the first 2 Dukes have changed. Thanks to the publisher for giving me an ARC.

DNF 40%

The beginning of the book had a lot of repetition and uninteresting facts. It did not draw me in and had to force myself to read as far as I did. Several of the characters were very annoying. I did not read the first two books in the series.

Just fair. I was neither over- nor underwhelmed. I wasn't invested enough to be either. I didn't feel our leads had any chemistry, and I've read better historical romances. This is my first book by this author, and it doesn't make me eager to read any more.

I received a copy of his book from the publisher through NetGalley.  All opinion are my own.

The Duke of Rathburne is in a pickle.  Rath has agreed to become the guardian to Miss Marlena Fast.  His only memory of Miss Fast is a 12 year old hoyden running wild. With this memory in mind Rath is stunned to discover that his new ward has become a beautiful young woman.  Marlena Fast has a secret, one that has the ability to destroy lives, hers included.  With stolen kisses in the garden and looks of longing and desire there is no denying the attraction between these two.  Can they overcome the obstacles in their road to happiness?  Amelia Grey has written a compelling story that takes the reader through an emotional tale of possibilities.  I would recommend this book as part of your summer reading list.

I had read the previous books of this series and this novel followed the same format just a little too close.   This book was good, except I felt like I already had read it before.  But, this book did what it was supposed to do ....entertain me!  

I wish to thank Ms. Grey, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy, in return for an unbiased review of her book!

Miss Honora Truth writes a gossiping column in a newspaper of London. But the scandals she writes about only concern the Rakes of St. James. Three notorious young dukes who had the brilliant idea of sending away love letters to a dozen young debutantes pretending to be their secret lovers. Most of these ladies could survive the scandal unscathed but not all of them could make good matches after that. The three men never did anything like that again but Miss Honora Truth won’t risk that. Her readers need to know how rakes’ minds work so they can defend themselves from them.

Some few years have passed and now only one of the dukes is still a bachelor. Miss Truth stopped writing about the other two since they got married so Rath is now the “victim” of her writings. The story begins when Rath, duke of Rathburne, has the guardianship of a young lady passed onto him. He knows that her name will likely appear in the scandal sheet from that moment on… what he doesn’t know is that his ward, Marlena, is the one behind the pen name of Miss Honora Truth.

Marlena writes the column because one of her friends was one of the debutanted who were publicly humiliated by the “secret lover affair” that got into a very unfortunate marriage. She and her sister live next to Marlena and they need money because the man of the house is oblivious of their most basic needs and spends all of their funds in historic artifacs. So when Marlena eventually falls in love with Rath she is full of doubts and fears…
•	What will happen when Rath finds out she’s Honora Truth?
•	Will he abandon her?
•	What will happen to their friends?
•	What will she do about with herself if she loses Rath?

It pains me a lot to say that this is not really the book for me. I didn’t enjoy it as I usually do, it didn’t make my heart flutter, so to speak. It pains me because it is not at all a bad book but I didn’t see myself in the story. When a romance speaks to me it makes me live the story, be the heroine (or sometimes the hero) but I was neither Marlena nor Rath… and I didn’t like the secondary characters, so that says all. 

Focusing on the protagonists… I felt a bit of lack of depth. He’s a rake who wants to atone for his past sins. There’s little about him to single him out from the typical rakes we’ve all read about. Still, I liked him, he’s charming.
We are given more details about Marlena, the heroine. She is too burdened by problems that are not hers. She takes responsibility of her neighbors’ misfortune and she does all the work and takes all the risks because the other two women are basically useless. She is living their lives for them and I didn’t like that. She thinks she’s helping them but she’s not. Helping them would be supporting them, encouraging them, not doing everything like they didn’t have two hands, two legs and a brain.

Also I had issues with her being the writer of the scandal sheet. So Rath and his friends were bullies in the past. And they needed to be punished for that. That’s fine. But she’s been writing the column for years and she only wrote about them, giving credit to all kinds of rumours and tell tales, not only shaming them but also putting in danger their sisters, wives, relatives, innocent people all of them… she’s bullying the bullies. And I despise that kind of revenge. You don’t punish or stop a bully by becoming a bully yourself, that’s wrong. Of course at some point Marlena feels ashamed of what she did and she knows she deserves to be punished… but, I won’t tell you what happens because it’s spoilers… but you can figure out more or less what doesn’t happen.

I said that it is not really a bad book. There were some things that I liked about the book and I liked them very much.

Their first kiss is one of the best first kisses, or kisses at all, that I’ve ever read. 

There’s a scene in which she wants to take off her bonnet, and he’s talking to her. She’s so nervous that she makes a knot of the bow of her hat and she can’t untie it. Rath unties that knot under her chin, and that is one of the sexiest scenes in the book.

There’s talk of consent between, and often. Rath won’t kiss her unless she specifically asks him for a kiss. He tells her that if she wants him to kiss her she has to be the one to start the kiss. Also, Rath comes up with a code language for her whenever she wants to stop kissing (or going further than that): she only needs to put a handkerchief between them. A handkerchief of his that he gave her and that she always has in her pocket.

In conclusion, this book wasn’t my cup of tea but I didn’t feel that I was wasting my time either. I enjoyed the second half of the book better than the first. Do I recommend 
this book? Well, if you like the “Guardians and wards” trope perhaps you might like this book.

It’s All About the Duke ⭐️⭐️

Nearing thirty, the Duke of Rathburne is finally ready to make amends for the wager that caused him and his best friends such scandal―but taking on a ward who needs a husband is a feat he’s not sure he can manage. The last he saw of Miss Marlena Fast, she was a spirited little ruffian, not the sort of bride most bachelors on the marriage mart sought. But one glance at the lovely lady she has become is enough to convince him otherwise…
Orphaned young and shuffled from family to family, Marlena counts on her fierce independence and quick wits to keep herself content. Being the responsibility of a notoriously wicked duke who upended so many lives is an unexpected challenge when she realizes he arouses her decidedly feminine desires. Marlena must be careful. She has her own scandalous secret to protect. If he finds out, will it shatter her chances of a happily-ever-after with the notorious rake?

I have read all 3 books in the series and this one was the hardest ... slowest read by far. I would pick it up with honest intentions to read more than a page or two and would quickly become bored. Wondering if I should give the dog a bath or schedule that root canal. 

I very nearly DNF when at 80% of the book read I was still waiting for something, anything to happen to make the characters stand out. Unfortunately for me they never did. 

I received this ARC for free in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you NetGalley!

This story was interesting. In both good and not so good ways. To begin with, I have not read the other books in this series, and yet I had no trouble understanding this one. If anything, this novel made me curious about the first two the point I have added them to my "to be read at some point" pile. 

I enjoyed the story to a point. The author had a way of both keeping my interest while slowly building up the relationship between ward and guardian (which in itself was a story I have not seen before). However, I didn't find their relationship as believable as I wanted. It seemed as though Marlena had harbored this dislike of the rakes (and Rath) for so long, and yet she seemed to be somewhat easily seduced by him. If she hated him for ruining her friends (as well as other young ladies) reputations because of a letter he had written three years ago, why did she not put up more of a fight? This could be because Rath appears as much a gentleman as he can considering - and he does actually try to do right by her. 

The fact that the author chose to give Marlena a conscience was a refreshing change as well, although it did become a bit tiresome. As did the constant reminder that she "had spark and spunk" because she spent her childhood running around the countryside with her five male cousins, and his constant "woe is me I will never live up to my father's expectations" attitude. When you overlook these, you still have to overlook Marlena's "chaperone" who I wanted to throttle throughout most of the story. 

I also wish we would have gotten more closure when it came to Mr.Portington, there was obviously more of a story there than we were shown. Sure his part in the story was tied up nicely, but what happened to the person responsible for their predicament in the first place?

When I look at this entire story as a whole however, I do feel like it will still appeal to not only fans of the first two novels, but those who enjoy a different sort of historical romance.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Really well written part of a trilogy. Could be read as a stand alone book. Loved both Marlena and Rath. So much caring and simmering passion. A coming of age and facing ones mistakes book for the them. Great read.

In this third and final installment in The Rakes of St. James series, Rath the Duke of Rathburne gets his turn at love with the feisty and, unusually for her time, independent Miss Marlena Fast. Rath and his two duke friends caused quite a bit of trouble with their prank of sending letters pretending to be secret admirers to twelve young women some years ago. Now as he has matured, Rath feels guilty for the damage that may have been done by their selfish and juvenile behavior. He is trying to be a better a man, a gentlemen even, when Rath agrees to be Marlena’s guardian whose duty is helping his ward through her first season in high society. Marlena grew up as an orphan, living first with rowdy boy cousins who taught her independence and fortitude. She then became the ward of an elderly gentlemen who allowed her much freedom. Marlena now lives with a cousin who wants to stamp all that unconventionality and free spirit right out of her.

The Duke is immediately drawn to the lively and beautiful Marlena, but desires to do the right thing by her and see a good marriage is made. Marlena is equally enchanted by Rath; however, she has a secret relating to him and his fellow Rakes that if it were known, could have devastating consequences for her and some close friends. The fact Rath and his friends emerged relatively unscathed from their earlier behavior caused much turmoil for Marlena as she loathed what they did, but now, she finds herself very attracted to the Duke of Rathburne. 

Marlena is intriguing because she is quite different than the ladies of her station and time period. Her independent nature and desire to be something other than someone’s wife sets Marlena quite apart. Usually, only the very rich could indulge themselves in such a manor not bowing to society’s rules and restrictions. Rath realizes living the life of a reprobate is less than satisfying. He finds himself drawn to Marlena feeling things about a woman he has never felt before. 

Although this book is part of a trilogy, it can be read as a standalone as enough information is given to understand the backstory set down in the previous books. Fans of Ms. Grey and Regency Romance will enjoy this conclusion to the series.

“Reformed rakes often make the best husbands.” –Judith McNaught, Something Wonderful

There are three books in The Rakes of St. James series: 
Last Night with the Duke: pub Mar 7, 2017 [The Duke of Griffin & Miss Esmeralda Swift]
To the Duke, With Love: pub Dec 5, 2017 [The Duke of Hawksthorn & Miss Loretta Quick]
It’s All About the Duke: estimated pub May 29, 2018 [The Duke of Rathburn & Miss Marlena Fast]

OK am I the only one to see the pattern in the last names of the ladies… Swift, Quick, and Fast? Seriously?? And the guys… [Griff, Hawk, & Rath]… what do they represent? Griffin is a mythical creature with the head and winds of an eagle and the body of a lion… both creatures of prey. Hawk… a bird of prey. Rath… not sure about him. All three are reformed rakes trying to clean up their act and redeem their reputations. Several years prior, they created a scandal that has haunted them and their victims… although the ladies suffered more than they did. Society blamed the females in the scheme before they blamed the Dukes… or as the ton said… ‘rakes will be rakes.’ By the third or fourth chapter… I was becoming pretty tired of hearing of the scandal and Marlena’s anger toward the Duke for ruining her friend’s life. She was pretty zealous in regard to her friend and neighbor… to the point of being obsessed with her situation and well-being. It quickly became tiresome… all-the-way to the final chapter. If I heard the word scandal one more time… I might call myself out… to end my misery. 

“If a wicked rake doesn’t kiss a young lady when they’re alone in a moonlit rose garden, might it mean he doesn’t intend to? There were rules about such things. Weren’t they written down somewhere? If not, then they should be. A Treatise on Rakes, written for Susceptible Young Ladies, by a lady of distinction.” –Anna Bradley, A Wicked Way to Win an Earl

Our heroine, Miss Marlena Fast, had a secret. She wrote for the scandal sheets under the name Miss Honora Truth. Her target… the Rakes of St. James… our hero His Grace, the Duke of Rathburn and his friends… the Duke of Griffin and the Duke of Hawksthorn. Her writing had become so popular that the publisher convinced her to write a book with her reflections. The title… Miss Honora Truth’s Words of Wisdom and Warning About Rakes, Scoundrels, Rogues, and Libertines. 

Each chapter of this book had a heading with Miss Honora Truth’s reflections regarding rakes. They read like a Jeff Foxworthy… “You might be a redneck…” only our author stated “He could be a rake…” and then listed a reflection on what might constitute someone being a rake. Of course, that was exactly what our hero did in that very chapter. His every action reinforcing her opinion that he was a rake. 

The chemistry between them was HOT… thus the RATING: MA: mature audience, sex scene between consenting adults [anticipating vows]. I’m sorry, but our couple jumped into lusty and steamy… way to quickly. I didn’t ‘feel the love’ between them, but rather felt the lust factor instead. He wanted her and she wanted him. Just saying. Then they had a colossal fight, had to suck up their courage, resolve the misunderstanding and forgive each other and head off to their happy ever after. Pretty predictable. 

This story did not make me want to run and read books 1&2. Characters from those books were present and made an appearance in this story. I liked his buddies, the other rakes or Dukes; however, their wives were just OK… nothing that piqued my interest. There was comedic relief from Miss Marlena’s cousin and widow… Mrs. Justine Abernathy. She was a pistol; however, after a while even her antics became tedious. Everyone got on my nerves. I am sorry, I simply could not connect with these guys. [3-stars]

I volunteered to read an ‘Uncorrected digital Galley’ from the publisher via NetGalley. The views expressed are my own. Estimated publication date... May 29, 2018.

I had a very difficult time getting into this book. The opening chapters dragged, and it was difficult for me to believe that Marlena would fall for the man who so hurt her friends.   The fact that Rath became her guardian also added a bit of an ick factor to this story for me.  The book did improve over the last fourth of it, but it took so long to get to that point. I couldn’t help but feel this book was a bit of a disappointment.

I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I really enjoyed this book. I plan on reading more books the author in the future. It was a good book.

Simply a delightful and interesting historical romance. Nice pair of main characters with chemistry. I was intrigued from page and hooked.

It might be my preference, but I somehow don't like this book as much as I like the second and the first book. The heroine didn't appeal to me and the hero is somewhat a little weak. I could understand that he feels strongly for his ward because it seems that she's the first person who actually knew him, more than anything else. But the way the hero behaves just confused me and that made me not being able to fully enjoy the story in a whole. Give it 3 stars because I manage to finish it

It is a truth universally acknowledged that it is probably not idea to read the third book in a group of companion books without having read the previous two.

It seems that the male love interest and some friends played a mean prank on some debutantes who were having their season and ruined the chances of at least one of them to make a good match. As a result, I didn't really warm up to the guy. Then, in revenge for before mentioned prank, the female love interest decided to get revenge on his sister. As a result, I kind of felt the two of them were shady and deserved each other. But again, maybe if I had a better understanding of the backstory I'd have liked this more.

It’s All About the Duke by Amelia Grey
Written with humor and involving well-drawn characters, this is a wonderful addition to a splendid series. Nearly ten years prior to the start of this story, three young dukes made a foolish wager. While each of the books in the Rakes of St. James series refers to that bet, Book 3 focuses almost entirely on the consequences of one’s actions, intended or not. As one of the men who years earlier wagered on whether or not 12 young ladies would elude their chaperones to meet a “secret admirer,” The Duke of Rathburne may learn about consequences by losing the love of his life. Rathburne finds himself the guardian of Marlena Fast when her previous guardian becomes too ill to manage. Marlena has a secret – she is the author of the scandal sheet as well as a book warning about rakes. She started writing these earn funds to aid her friend, and next-door neighbor, and to avenge her friend’s sister, who was one of the 12 young women tricked in the wager and who has made an unhappy marriage to escape the scandal. Much to the surprise, and dismay, of both Marlena and the duke, they find themselves attracted to one another, but can this attraction become something more in the face of the past. Characters from the first two books make an appearance here, but in minor roles. Hopefully, the next book will tie up some of the loose ends in the stories of a few of the minor characters, especially Lady Vera.

Another great in the series. Love Ms Grey books. Always waiting for next to come out! Always romatic and a good afternoon escape