I feel like a weirdo, not loving this book while obviously everybody does, but so be it, I’m a weirdo and I’m sticking to my opinion : if I hadn’t received this book through Netgalley, I wouldn’t have finished it.

Why ?

The characters are childish, selfish, bordering stupid and they could all go to hell for all I care.
Amelia is a spoiled brat who knows practically everything about sex (she’s read a book) and is eager to jump the hero (the first time doesn’t hurt, especially when you’re taking the lead !). Plus she’s nosy. She hides to listen to people, she snoops in Lunden’s bedroom when he’s not there (and rolls in his bed, pfftttt). Her ideas about riding horses astride are ludicrous : if women rode astride, « we would never hear horror stories about ladies trapped in marriage with no escape ». As if.
Also, I can’t remember how many times I read the word « tart » when describing her mouth, her language, but it was so often that I thought about counting it. She’s rebellious, she speaks her mind (and doesn’t care about the consequences on the people surrounding her), we know, it’s repeated time and time again.
She plans on getting rid of her possible future husband by shooting him and running away : she even left a man to drown once ! Isn’t she lovely ?

The events that lead to Lunden and Amelia spending time together are simply idiotic : those closest of friends haven’t seen each other in years and one drops his sister’s wedding onto the other’s responsibility because he wants to finish his jigsaw puzzles ?...

Matthew ? I hated him ! I simply couldn’t believe his change of attitude toward the end ! And yes, contrarily to what he says, it seems to me he spends his whole days playing with his puzzles and doesn’t give a care about his sister, he just wants to get rid of her anyway he can – especially if it profits him. When he speaks about her, he clearly loathes her.

Lunden ? He’s « ensconced in obligation and duty ». This is called being an adult and working for a living, people ! He’s not very mature, still holding grudges toward his brother that a grown man should understand. I almost expected to see him stomping sometimes. And he’s rich and titled, so I’m not pitying him. He’s very rude to someone the first time he comes to visit him and the background that is given later doesn’t tone down his attitude – he didn’t know. Would you rush inside a stranger’s house without invitation, barking at people and helping yourself with their brandy ? I wouldn’t. And, of course, he doesn’t deserve Amelia. (I think yes, they deserve each other, good luck with your life once you’re married !).

Now, you know why I didn’t love it !

Amelia’s brother has been assigned the chore of finding her a husband before the end of the Season. Up to this point, Amelia has not met anyone that she would desire to spend the rest of her life with until she is reacquainted with her brother’s friend, Lunden. The problem arises when Lunden, who has secluded himself to the country for the past ten years after the fatal fall his brother took from his horse, starts to have feelings for her but refuses to acknowledge them. The story is well written, easy to follow and entertaining. There is a HEA but it is not an easy path to this outcome. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it for a great read. I would like to see Matthew have his own story written with a happy ending.

3.5 stars

This started out really slow for me, but it was a solid story once I truly got into it. The relationship between Lunden and Amelia was very slow building and while slow burns are my favorite I feel like at times it was a little too slow. However, there were certain moments that kept me interested and were scorching hot. I could really feel Lunden's pain and it became clear that only Amelia could understand him and help him heal. I really disliked Matthew throughout the whole book, but I was relieved when he redeemed himself and I hope he gets his own book. This is definitely a good start to this series. I'm really looking forward to Charlotte's story and her mysterious husband.

Lunden Beckford, the Duke of Scarsdale, left London long ago. He reluctantly returns to the city to deal with his brother’s estate. He agrees to help a close friend make a match for his troublesome sister. The lady in question, Amelia, is a beauty with a sense of adventure. Before she is willing to accept his help in finding a husband, Amelia forces him to agree to helping her gain certain experiences.

I enjoyed this book. Both Lunden and Amelia were fascinating and complex characters. I loved seeing the push and pull between them. The one character I wish would have been a little redeemable was Amelia’s brother. He was just awful to her.

If you enjoy historical romances, this is a good option.

I really enjoyed Lunden and Amelia's story!!

Lunden has come to town to finish some business. He is been away from town because of a scandal and doesn't want to bring attention to himself. He asks to stay with a friend not counting on falling for the friend's sister. Amelia's brother has demanded that she marry. She is determined to learn a few things before that happens and talks Lunden into helping her. Of course, this leads to all kinds of antics and them falling for one another.

This was a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read Jeremy and Charlotte's story next!

I personally loved Lunden, and I have read this author before though it has been a long long time, nevertheless I decided to give it a go and I have to say that I did enjoy it, it surprises me and I don't know why that each time I tend to read a historical fictions romance book I forget how much I do enjoy them and ask myself why have I waited so long to return to reading them, I have no clue. Back to the review (sorry for tangent) While I loved Lunden I wish he wasn't so hard on himself we all make mistakes and yes we tend to feel guilty about them but he needed to give himself a break it was time. Now again as I said I liked him I wasn't however crazy about Amelia, I found her immature and annoying and then I asked myself was because Lunden wasn't anyhoo this book deserves to be read and enjoyed and I am going to ask that you do that...

My first book by this author, and definitely not the last!

This book is difficult for me to rate. I finished it, and enjoyed parts of it, but there were some little things that annoyed me a bit here and there.

The heroine:
While I get that she was supposed to be feminist, forward-thinking, independent, and strong, to me she kind of came across as careless, reckless, inconsiderate, and incapable of considering how her actions affect other people. To be fair, I have that problem with most "strong and independent" heroines, so that might be just me. She's right of course in thinking that marriage will take away all her freedom, and that she deserves a say in how she is to spend the rest of her life. I just didn't like the way she went about asserting her independence, often being careless of servants and everyone else around her. The scandals she causes (throwing a suitor in the Thames, lighting another one's pants on fire) were just over the top for me (I guess everyone else would find them humorous, so again, my bad!), and only made me think that she was really immature and heedless of the consequences of her actions.
I did like that she was determined to get a small measure of independence back, that she took active steps to ensure she had some sort of say in her life though. And the end kind of made up for it, it was a nice change.

Her brother:
Came across to me as a total jerk who barters away his sister's hand in marriage to another total jerk to gain acceptance in society. It's no wonder the heroine hates men given the example he sets. Also, I didn't really buy his change of heart in the end.

The hero:
Typical tortured, wounded, "I ruin everything and everyone just by being in their presence" outcast who closed himself off from life after the scandalous death of his brother which prompted everyone to assume he had killed him to gain the title. After ten years away from everything that reminds him of his loss, he comes back to finally untangle the last remaining mystery surrounding his brother's death and learns to accept his loss and allow himself to move on.
I sort of liked him. Seeing him come to life again because of his "Troublemaker" was sweet and worth reading the book for.

All in all, this was a nice book! The story just really wasn't my kind of thing (which I realize is right in the title, but every now and then I just feel like trying something new and outside my comfort zone). But I am definitely looking forward to the next book, the plot sounds much more my thing.

Over the years, I have enjoyed other books by Ms. Bryant and was excited to read this story. I love the story line. The Earl of Strathmore needs to find a husband for his sister, Lady Amelia, a known troublemaker and hoyden. He enlists the assistance of his long time friend the Duke of Scarsdale to make this happen. The Duke has lived in a a self imposed exile since his older brother's death for which the Duke has blamed himself as has society. What follows is a story of two people scared to find love, one because he feels he doesn't deserve it and the other afraid that she will be at the mercy of a miserable union. This book is well some with unexpected plot twists and great minor characters. I cannot wait to read Charlotte's story. I also hope their is a story for Matthew in the works.

I have been a fan of Ms. Bryant’s for a while and all of her stories are so wonderfully written. As you are reading, the mystery comes to light. It does not bang you in the head in Chapter 2 but slowly unravels in the story. I love that. Angsty hero? Here is one for your shelf. Lunden beats himself up all of the time and at times you want to say “stop it with the pity party, stuff happens and you have to get over it”. Yes, love the angst-filled hero. Amelia is just a bundle of let’s-go-for-all-of-the-gusto. Their differences bring each back to reality and their slow burn romance makes for a lovely story. The ending is right out of a fairytale.

London's Wicked Affair (Midnight Secrets, #1) is a great start to a new series by Anabelle Bryant. I have read all of her books and I really enjoyed this one as much if not more than the last books I read by this author.

Lunden Beckford, the Duke of Scarsdale, after ten years of living in guilt and sorrow, away from London, returns to take care of his brother's estate, and then plans to go straight back home. He goes to the home of his only friend Matthew Strathmore, the Earl of Whittingham. While there, Matthew asks for his help to find a suitable husband for the Earl's sister. The Earl also asks him to stay with him while he is there to avoid all the judgmental people in Society. Lunden reluctantly agrees.

While they are in Matthew's office, a beautiful young woman bursts through the door without knocking-Matthew's sister Amelia! Lunden is surprised to say the least. Matthew yells at her for not knocking and Lunden just takes it all in.

Amelia is 22 years old, and has a mind of her own, and refuses to accept any promising suitors sent her way, which is demonstrated at the last dinner party where she almost set the would be suitor's crotch on fire.

It is simple, Amelia doesn't want to marry for anything but true love. Her father is ill and is at their country home with Amelia and Matthew's mother. They all want her settled before anything happens. Her biggest example is her best friend Charlotte who has been wed to a man that makes her miserable! Amelia refuses to let this be her fate as well.

Lunden is fascinated by her but he knows he has to stay immune to her as he does not want to fall in love and belong to anyone but himself and refuses to give the ton more to gossip about. Somehow Amelia knows that he is going to help her brother find someone to marry her off to.

Amelia feels unlike she has ever felt towards a man before, and somehow Lunden can't help but feel towards her the same way. It is powerful and very unsettling for the both of them.

This book is so good, filled with great dialog between all of the major and minor characters, there are a lot of unexpected twists in the plot. There are other plots running through the main plot like why is Matthew trying to give his sister to a man with 6 kids, what does he gain?

Despite all of Amelia's crazy antics, Lunden is obsessed! What will he do? Matthew is his only friend, and he knows Amelia deserves the best, and he feels he is not that man.

What happens to all of Amelia's suitors, that her brother sends her way, will she be forced to accept a man she has no love or passion for? Read this awesome book and find out for yourself. I loved this book so much that I gave it 5*****stars! I can't wait for the next book which will feature Amelia's friend Charlotte!

I love Annabelle Bryant and I feel like I really could!d have loved this book of the heroine wasn't such a judgey person. The comments she passed on her best friend's marriage were irritating and repetitive and put me off this story very early on. I think I'd like to read the next book about the best friend and her indifferent husband but I couldn't finish this one. ARC received from netgalley.

Loved this story. Linden has suffered with guilt for 10 years...can he be saved? Amelia is a breath of fresh air. Determined to pick her own husband, she faces a determined brother who is trading her life for a position in society.

I won't spoil the story, but read this book. The characters..and there's quite a few who I hope we hear from in the future, are so interesting.

Lunden Beckford, the Duke of Scarsdale has been away from London for many years due to gossip. He returns to visit his friend, Matthew Strathmore, Earl of Whittingham. Matthew has a sister, Amelia, that he wants to marry off because their father is ill and they want to see her settled. Matthew is busy with his intellectual pursuits and asks Lundon to find her a husband. Amelia is feisty and headstrong. She wants to marry for love and not to Collins whom they have chosen for her. Their time together leads to attraction and love. But will her brother agree to a marriage between them? What about Collins to whom she is betrothed? What about the gossip about Lundon? So many questions and secrets. I loved this book. It is the first book I have read by Anabelle Bryant and I have to read the rest of her books. I received this book from Net Galley and Kensington Books for a honest review and no compensation otherwise.

Lunden has promised Amelia's brother to find her a husband. He believes his own past to be in the way of any romance. But Amelia is an outspoken young woman who wants to shape her future after her own desires...

Those two make a sweet and very likeable couple, I quite enjoyed this wonderful start to a new series and I'm looking forward to read more from this series.

***Mild SPOILERS****

What I liked:
The hero, Lunden - he's heartbroken and guilt laden, but the best sort of man. He has great wells of love to give, but fear of further loss, among other things, shackles him

The writing. It's good, clear and quite appealing in some spots.

What I didn't like:
Basically the rest, but especially...

The heroine. She's selfish and self-important. She's right about how disadvantaged women are, but she always charges head first into things only concerned with herself and not how the havoc she wreaks will impact others. She grew very annoying to this reader

The brother, Matthew. He's written as a good friend to the hero, but there's little evidence of it. Yes, it's true he didn't add slander to Lunden's name along with most of the ton, but it also doesn't seem that he came to his defense at all and certainly not frequently. It's unclear how often he and Lunden see one another, but at least here, when Lunden arrives his "friend" allows him to stay at his home, but he asks for quite the favor in return. His sister is a pill and a pain, seeking Lunden's help with her is more than payment enough for room and board. That sounds like a bad trade to me, not friendship. Matthew treats his sister quite abominably as well. Yes, she's annoying, but trying to saddle her with an old husband and six children is really unconscionable.

All this said, I think the author shows promise. She can write, now she just needs to write characters I can actually like. The next book seems like it may be closer to the sort of story I can get behind. Here's to hoping.

I received an ARC of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received a free copy from Netgalley on honest review. First say that I hate lunden's name. He exalts himself from society after a tragedy with his brother and now he's returned to London in order to settle some business. Businesses in London is what allows him to meet Amelia who is required by her family marry immediately. As her father is sick and dying the issue of her marrying falls on her brother we just wants to get the task done. Amelia's brother asked lunden for some help with getting remarried off and this allows their relationship to grow.

Elegantly written romantic regency

This is the first book I've read by Anabelle Bryant and I'm so happy that my friend who is a longtime fan introduced me to her books.
Amelia is a woman ahead of her time. Beautiful, strong and smart she believes woman need to have a say in their futures. Lundon is tortured with a past that has kept him from loving and building a family of his own. Reacquainted after 10 years by Amelia's brother Mathew the attraction is powerful though forbidden. There are some significant twist and turns that help Amelia and Lunden to grow and work through past hurts allowing them to come together for their HEA. The secondary characters play an important part in the story their sub-plots giving the the story additional depth. However Mathew's machinations in getting Amelia married, while realistic for the times really bothered me. He did just barely redeem himself in the end. I look forward to London's Best Kept Secret Charlotte and Jeremy's story.
I received an ARC via Netgalley.

I was so excited when I heard Anabelle Bryant had a new book coming out. When I found out it was a whole new series, I was practically giddy with anticipation. If the rest of her Midnight Secrets series is even half as good as London’s Wicked Affair, I will be one extremely happy girl. This deliciously crafted love story full of passion, wit, and intrigue is a shining example of why Anabelle Bryant is a rising star in historical romance.
Lunden Beckford, Duke of Scarsdale, had managed for 10 years to stay away from London with its cruel gossip and painful memories surrounding the death of his brother, Douglas. He was forced to return however to finally settle his brother’s estate and see to the sale of Douglas’ town house. To avoid society, Lunden decided to stay with Matthew Strathmore, Earl of Whittingham. His oldest and only friend and a man who still suffered from the bullet he’d taken for Lunden. Matthew was dealing with his own problems as well and requested Lunden’s help. His sister, Amelia, was resisting all matchmaking attempts, and Matthew required Lunden’s influence to help marry her off while their ailing father was still alive. When Lunden met Amelia, she was no longer the young girl he remembered but had matured into a breathtakingly beautiful woman. And a headstrong woman as well. It seemed Amelia wouldn’t agree to any matchmaking prospects until Lunden agreed to help her with a short list of requests. Things she wished to experience before losing her freedom to marriage. Her choices pricked Lunden’s curiosity so he agreed. Once he met her demands and his business was resolved, he’d leave London forever. There were too many memories he’d wished abandoned. Nothing could keep him there.
He didn’t count on the effect each encounter with Amelia would have on him though. Something about her calmed his restless soul. Unfortunately, something about her also stirred his desire. “One look at her and every wall of defense, carefully constructed over years of seclusion, threatened to fracture.” Not only would it make him the worst sort of friend to lust after his best friend’s sister, but Amelia deserved more. No matter how time faded memories, scandal was always a whisper away. He’d do best to keep his head around her. How he’d fulfill her requirements and maintain his dignity was beyond him. She was a danger and a temptation. He’d come to London to make his life less complicated, but Amelia Strathmore had managed to make it more so.
Lunden and Amelia were just two of those kind of characters you can’t help but love. I fell in love with Lunden when he agreed to Amelia’s requests/demands. He didn’t just want to be free of the task. He recognized that she acted out of fear and he wanted to help her. He understood her objection to being manipulated and was convinced that she, like him, kept a silent secret. I ached for him and the guilt he carried surrounding the death of his brother and Matthew’s injury. He’d only been a boy when his parents died. He’d had no one to comfort him then or after the death of his brother. He was left to deal with it alone. He’d carried that burden for 10 years. That’s why Amelia’s effect on him confused him. He struggled between desire and self- recrimination. He’d carried guilt, regret, and unworthiness for so long, he was confused by the peace and pleasure he found in Amelia’s arms.
I fell in love with Amelia the moment she stole those two puzzle pieces from her brother just to annoy him. The fact that she set a would be suitor’s crotch on fire only solidified my love for her. I loved her zest for life. Even when dealing with her brother’s insistence that she marry, she wanted to bring joy to her best friend Charlotte and to Lunden. She felt powerless because of Matthew’s machinations. She only wanted control of her life and she was quite outspoken in requesting it. I couldn’t help but cheer for her. Lunden was the only one who seemed willing to help her get that control. He listened to her and agreed to her list of requests. He intrigued her. Why did he hide and lead such a private existence? He was a man of deep emotion but never allowed himself joy. She wanted to make him happy. I loved watching the two of them discover that, in spite of what they thought fate had planned for them, they were meant for each other.
I loved that nothing was rushed in this story. The slow discovery of the events surrounding Douglas’ death helped me appreciate the guilt Lunden felt and his need for secrecy. I loved the way his and Amelia’s relationship evolved too. There was a growing attraction there, of course, but I also loved seeing their trust in one another evolve and their desire for the other’s happiness.
The secondary characters added so much to the story as well. I’m anxious to read Lady Charlotte’s story. She’s so unhappy in her marriage and I’m curious to find out why Lord Dearing is being such an ass. Anabelle Bryant has her work cut out for her redeeming this character with me. And redeeming Matthew. He lost sight of what mattered most in this story and made some cruel choices. He’ll have to prove himself to me before I decide he needs an HEA. I can’t wait to see how Ms. Bryant makes me love these two again.
This series promises to be exquisite. No one writes historical romance like Anabelle Bryant. Her attention to detail and her ability to create true to life, loveable characters is unmatched. I promise your pulse will race with this story. The passion was to die for and the intrigue and secret dealings will keep you turning the pages. If you’ve read Ms. Bryant before, you will fall in love with this new series. If you’re new to her books, stretch out on your fainting couch, grab those smelling salts, and prepare to swoon. A Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team Selection

London’s Wicked Affair⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️by Anabelle Bryant

Lunden Beckford, Duke of Scarsdale, has left London for ten years choosing to isolate himself from cruel gossip. He now finds himself forced to return to town to wrap up unfinished business regarding his estate. He plans to do this a a quickly as possible and return to the country.

When he visits his only friend Matthew he is asked to stay as a guest and help Matthew find a husband for Matthews sister Amelia. Amelia is a strong willed independent woman who wants only for marry for love.

As Lunden comes to know Amelia, he wants he makes it his mission to accomplish her wishes. He also finds himself thrown into compromising positions one that involves hiding in a closet. This scene has to be every woman’s fantasy. So well written by the author it will be remembered for a very long time.

The death of Lunden’s brother becomes a vital part of the weave of this story. I will reveal nothing else.

The romantic journey these two people take is just that romantic in every way. Ms Bryant writes unforgettable characters that breath out of the pages. This is a must read.

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
So sad , yet so hopeful .
Those are my initial feeling when read this book .
Lunden has had a hard , complicated and disappointing life so far , what he needs is what he can’t have and doesn’t feel he deserves , Love .
Amelia is not looking forward to married life , women are downtrodden, put-upon, and used by their husbands .
Maybe they both just need the right person to show them the meaning of love , and that happiness is something everyone deserves.
What a really good book , thoroughly enjoyed it .
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review