I am madly in love with Ian Swift, also alias, The Earl of Castelton. Hated all of his life by his Father, blamed for his older brother's death, Matthew the heir. He forges through hard work, an Empire of his own. The gaming club, Raven! His Mother, still beautiful, however, tired, after the hard life with her husband, wants Ian, to sell his club, take up his duties as Earl. He has, absolutely no desire to marry, yet, his two much younger sisters will be ready for their debut within the year.
The Honorable Miss Grace Ashton, hates gambling, for ever since her Mother died, her father, a Baron, has done nothing but drink, and bankrupt his family. Grace sneaks out of their home, puts on a Mask , and takes on Ian Swift, for ruining her father. I love this Author, I love the majority of her books, this one, sadly is lacking complete thought. He never gives up that Club, who is attending to his estates? He doesn't take up his place in the House of Lord's, to change the horrendous laws against women and children during that time period. He throws money at it. His justification for keeping the Club falls short with me, an abused wife has somewhere safe to go! It is like excusing Las Vegas, for all the miserable people who flock there, and drown their sorrows.
I recommend for light reading. Thank you!
Carolintallahassee

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋
A thoroughly enjoyable and amusing book .
I need to read more from this author .
She has a wicked way with words and a gift for storytelling, its an addictive read you’ll find very hard to put down and it flows beautifully .
I received an advanced copy of this book and chose to submit a review

I absolutely loved Grace and Ian's story!!

Grace doesn't know what else to do about her father's gambling debts, so she approaches the owner of the club about settling the debts and about keeping her father from the club. She doesn't count on Ian having conditions of his own for his agreement. He must re-enter society and he needs her help in refining his manners. As the two spend time together, their attraction grows and one night they are caught in a compromising position. Forced to marry, could this marriage turn into something that they both crave?

I loved the bantering between Grace and Ian. Gabrielle does such a good job of this and it makes the book that much more enjoyable! I loved that Grace was not going to let what her father was doing, get in the way of providing a life for her and her brother. She forged ahead and did what needed to be done for the household to survive.

This was a great start to what I am sure will be a wonderful series! I can't wait to see what Gabrielle come up with next!

Ian likes to take action, “then don’t,” he said. “As for tonight’s lesson, shall I show you how a real man can move?” Before she could protest, he pulled her into his arms." I liked this book, Grace gave Ian a run for his money, the man just didn't know what was coming with her.

4.5/5 Stars
It's a lovely read which I enjoyed thoroughly. I loved both the main characters and found their encounters quite interesting. The story is fast paced and flows perfectly so it is a quick read.
All Miss Ashton wants is to save her father. He has developed a habit of gambling and the way he is going soon they won't have anything left to their names. She can't let that happen so it is up to her to do something before it's too late. With that thought in mind she visits the 'gaming hell' her father frequents. However, things don't go the way she had anticipated because the owner is a cad of worst sort and doesn't see anything wrong with gambling away one's inheritance.
Ian knows that Miss Ashton is misplacing the blame. If he refused her father admittance to his club he will only go some where else. The problem is not the gaming clubs but her father's own issues. And he needs to deal with them himself. No one else can stop him from ruining himself. But one thing is becoming clearer, Ian will definitely try to intervene simply because he is having a hard time saying know to Grace. She is a lady and he is an owner of gambling club, one thing she hates most, yet he is hoping to garner favor with her. Dare he hope or is there no happy ending for them both?
It's a great historical romance novel. I liked the story, it's well-written and keeps readers interested from the very beginning until the end. Definitely a must read for historical fiction's fans.

3.5/5. Grace Ashton is a the daughter of a Baron, one hell-bent on drowning himself in grog and miring himself in greater financial debts daily through gambling. Desperate, she seeks out Ian Swift, the owner of one of her father's most frequented gambling clubs, hoping to pay off the amount owed with the few remaining jewellery pieces she has left in her possession. When the debt turns out to be a staggering amount she cannot match, Ian eventually persuades her to lend her assistance to him in exchange for wiping out the arrears owed. It turns out that Ian is the new Earl of Castleton, a title he reluctantly is forced to accept following the death of his older brother, a death Ian continues to suffer guilt and self-blame over. His mother, the dowager countess, is emotionally blackmailing him into finally steeping into the role of the earl, what with 2 younger sisters upon the cusp of making their debuts and needing his support. He has been away from polite society for so long, he requires Grace's guidance to make him more presentable and civilised. Left with little choice, Grace grudgingly agrees to this undertaking.


It's not exactly an original premise, but the writing was solid if not quite exciting. The plot moved along very quickly, which meant that there the details were a bit lacking at times. There were also minor plot inconsistencies, but overall both MCs were likeable and it was a pleasant read.

Loved this book! So well written that I truly felt thier emotions. I cried with her, laughed, and shared her frustrations and uncertainties. A great HEA novel worth reading

Loved it. Every aspect of the story was captivating. The heroine is determined, resourceful and engaging. The hero is strong willed, broken and loving. The story line is intriguing, enjoyable and full of depth. I can't wait to read more

Enjoyed this book!! My first by Tina. She did not disappoint. Love and passing and humor . Def recommend !

A fun romance with interesting characters. Enjoyed real issues set in a historical setting. The characters are simpering, but intelligent.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Grace is intelligent and has very strong views. I like that she is willing to look at things from other people’s perspectives and is willing to compromise. Ian has been deeply hurt and has built up walls to protect himself. He needs to work through the fears that have led to him wanting to protect his heart. The attraction between Ian and Grace is present from the first time they meet.

The characters are likable and the story moves at a nice pace. This is a very enjoyable read.

Grace was a great main character. Strong independent woman. Takes control of her future and family. Ian pulls at your heartstrings with his past. Great all around story!

I voluntarily borrowered and read this book. My opinions are my own. I really like these characters and the sparks fly. Ian becomes an Earl after the death of his brother but since he runs Raven gambling club, he is reluctant to step into that role. He was treated horribly by his father and has been away from society. His mother convinces him to start taking on his Earl duties for his sister's futures. Ellie's dad is a Baron who gambles and drinks and is in debt to the Raven club. Ellie goes to the club to confront Ian so they would not allow her father to get into further debt. She ends up agreeing to coach him in manners so he can enter society again. The romance evolves as they find themselves in various situations. There were some predictable moments but the richness of Ian and Ellie characters is heartwarming. I was surprised that Ian's mom had not defended him when he was younger. Thank you for the wonderful story.

I voluntarily read a copy of this book through Netgalley. The story is about a young woman, Grace who is trying to keep her family from losing their home due to her father’s drinking and gambling debts. Ian Swift is the owner of the Raven Club and is owed a huge sum of money by her father. After trying to pay the debt and then learning of the excessive amount that is owed, she returns home. Events occur that cause Ian to need her assistance and a bargain is made between them to clear her father’s debt. Ian has inherited his brother’s title of Earl and must now learn how to return to polite society in order to assist his younger sisters. After being found in a compromising situation by Ian’s mother, the Countess insists they marry to keep any scandal away from his sisters. This is a great love story and the book is well written. I would highly recommend the book.

Gambling hell owner…I’m in. What we see in our own lives colors our views of others and we have a hard time being persuaded to think differently. That is how I see Grace. She cannot see past her father’s unfortunate vices to know that even though Ian owns a gambling hell he is not like her father. Ian has his own issues but underneath the rough exterior he is a kind and wonderful person. I loved seeing Grace and Ian work out their problems even though they do not (and probably will not) always see eye to eye. I have read several of Ms. Gabrielle’s books and the writing flows so well you are the end of the book before you know it. I wanted more of Ian and Grace. I love the idea of The Raven Club and hope to see the secondary characters get their own stories.

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher for an honest review. Thank you!!
This novel was an enjoyable read. People judge others based on what the see and hear, but until one actually gets to know a person do they truly see the face behind the mask. Miss Grace Ashton is intelligent, but her father is a drunk and gambler. She goes to see Ian Swift, the man who runs the Raven casino where her father attends. Ian is a self made man after being cast out my his father for refusing to do as he wished. Ian is intrigued by Grace and desires her. He refuses her offer of payment for her father's debts. However, Ian needs to brush up his skills as a gentleman and who better to teach him than Grace. Grace will do anything to help her family, even striking a deal with Ian. However, there desire for each other gets them caught in a compromising situation. Ian sees this as a way to keep Grace with him. When Grace asks him to give up his club, Ian agrees so that she will marry him, but after the wedding, Grace discovers Ian's true position. However, there is more to Ian and what the Raven does for people. Ian needs to let Grace see what the club's true purpose is and Grace needs to accept that not everyone who enters the casino is like her father. Both love the other, but will they allow their opinions to interfere with that love?