I'm a big Kelly Bowen fan, and I've read all of the books in the Devils of Dover series, though I haven't loved all of them. However, even though this was a novella and not even a full-length story, it was one of my favorites.

Night of the Scoundrel brings back King, a character from previous books, so some background knowledge is helpful, though I think you could manage this one as a stand-alone. Even though I've read all the books in the series, it still took me a chapter to get my bearings and remember some details.

I loved Adeline and how principled and crafty she was. She was relentless in her quest for justice and truth, and I admired that about her. King was more enigmatic at first, but his story took me by surprise and really squeezed my heart.

I think the romance between them could have used some more page time, but the plot really carried me. I was hungry for revenge and justice, almost as much as these characters, and I couldn't wait to see how the story played out.

The writing was some of Kelly Bowen's best. It felt dark and dangerous, and I didn't want to put the story down. It makes me hopeful that the rest of the series could be this good.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

I cannot give feedback on this title as the ebook was archived before I downloaded it. My apologies for the mixup.

Night of the Scoundrels was such a good book! Historical Romances are my absolute favorite and I feel like Kelly Bowen is such a great writer. I absolutely loved King and Adeline! They are both such amazing characters. I only wish that this wasn't a novella but a full length!

Happy sigh - that’s how I finished Night of the Scoundrel.  Ms. Bowen’s readers have been calling for a story about the intriguing King ever since he was first introduced in her Season for Scandal series. King showed up again in Bowen’s last Devils of Dover book, A Rogue in the Night, leaving us all the more primed for his story. While I would have adored a full-length novel about King, Ms. Bowen delivers with this 133-page novella!

The book begins with King observing a woman skillfully defending herself with a sword and knife in the back alleys of London. He is intrigued; she has obviously been trained by a master sword fighter - or maybe not as she is equally adept with a knife. She is quiet, beautiful, talented, and lethal. Enigma meet enigma.

Adeline Archambault delivers justice for those abused by the powers that be. She is in London to find a priceless sapphire and return it to its rightful owner (and deliver a little justice to the thief as well). The sapphire is to be sold at one of King’s notorious art auctions. Adeline procures an invitation, finds the sapphire in King’s study, and is about to complete her mission when King steps out of the shadows and confronts her.

Too late, he felt the edge of her blade pressing against his abdomen beneath his coat...if such a thing had been possible, King would have fallen in love right there.

“That’s the third,” she murmured.

“Third what?”

“The third assumption you’ve made. The first one was bold, the second overly simplistic, and this one potentially fatal. I never go anywhere without my weapons.” Her lips curled, and King’s thoughts scattered all over again. “You should have a care in the future,” she continued softly. “The next person to exploit an abundance of skirts may have far less...professional motivations than I.”

While he is struggling to regain his wits and control his lust for Adeline, King’s deepest enemy, John Westerleigh, the Baron Marstowe, a man he thought dead, enters King’s study. It has been almost twenty years since King saw Westerleigh, but he’d recognize him anywhere. But there was not a flicker of recognition in the older man’s eyes. With an unclear head and rage in his heart, King hires Adeline to destroy Westerleigh. What follows is a captivating unfolding of King’s history and his struggles to move on from the tragedies of his youth.

King is one of the most enigmatic characters I’ve come across in HR - a lord of London’s underworld, ruthless, seemingly without conscience, and yet a collector of fine art and endlessly knowledgeable about antiquities and myths. A man to be feared and yet a friend to some. In Adeline, Ms. Bowen has gifted King with his perfect match. Adeline understands the underworld, she understands loss, and she understands the overwhelming need for revenge. But, she is also able to see things more clearly than King and offer him a piece of his humanity that he thought long gone. Writing a match for King was a tall order and Ms. Bowen has done it with considerable aplomb.

Night of the Scoundrel is a very satisfying novella, answering all the questions readers had about King, delving deep into the mind and heart of this fascinating character, and delivering a complete and satisfying romance along the way. While short, it does manage to bring in many of the characters from the Season for Scandal series and is all the more enjoyable because of the history readers have with King in these other stories. It can be read as a stand-alone but will be more fully appreciated if you are familiar with the Season for Scandal books. Well done Ms. Bowen!

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Visit our Amazon Storefront or shop at your local independent bookstore

After intriguing encounter in a dark alley has King quite intrigued with the experienced lady rapier named Adrestia aka Adeline Archambault hat he has his men follow her. After the French Revolution, she is determined to reclaim her birthright. She infiltrates King’s home at the annual art and valuables auction as an unexpected guest seeking to steal from him when King Lord of the Underworld catches her and then hires her to destroy his enemy. King is an unknown no one knows who he is, just that’s he’s ruthless and dangerous and he’s out for revenge. What an intriguing story, who is King, who is the enemy, can they trust each other? I voluntarily wrote a review for this excellent story.

King is the man to go to when you want something but he’s been made that way by his past. When he finds his match in a woman who can hold her own, he will have his hands full because what gets buried in the past doesn’t always stay buried.

Adeline lost it all and rose above to help others who it all taken from them. She’s intrigued by King and well he’s the only person who seems into
Her and doesn’t make her feel so lonely. He needs her help but won’t tell all his secrets. When she finds them all will they survive ?

I loved this book but I only problem with it was, it was too short! Both characters are quite strong yet quite fragile underneath. Known only as King, ‘the king of the underworld’, a man who can get anything for those who can pay a premium price. However, when a man from his past reappears, he seeks out Adeline Archambault, a woman who many think, is an assassin. The attraction between them is intense from the start, threatening to consume them, as it does the reader. However, whilst intense and passionate, their relationship is very respectful. After meeting and sharing their secrets, there will never be another person who can take the other’s place.
Kelly Bowen’s writing flows smoothly, and all interactions between Adeline and King are vividly described, capturing the intensity of their feelings. I could have stayed immersed in this story for so much longer.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Update 4 Dec 2019: added Amazon review link to feedback

FEEDBACK 26 Nov 2019:

**ARC provided by Forever Yours (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley**

READ 25 Nov 2019 (★★★)

NIGHT OF THE SCOUNDREL by Kelly Bowen is a smart/well-written novella about kindred souls—an honourable “anti-hero” H & a justice-seeking h—who unexpectedly find love when their paths cross. It’s a quick & easy read, perfect as a mini-break from year-end obligations/frenzy. And great intro for readers new to Bowen’s titles.

FWIW, I approached this novella mostly as re-intro to Bowen’s writing. Given its novella length, I d/n expect in-depth romance or charaterisations (barely remember King from previous books & think h is new character). Thus, I simply enjoyed NIGHT OF THE SCOUNDREL for the story & writing (even if decision at end puzzled me somewhat).

FYI: when I sat down to read ARC, I posted following update on GR:

“Going in totally blind—d/n even read blurb. Know I read some of Kelly Bowen’s earlier titles but not this series. So got ARC solely on basis of beautifully-done cover & author name.”

So imagine my surprise when I realised that past incidents & cameos by certain secondaries relate back to Bowen’s Season for Scandal series, *not* the Devils of Dover series. But then, IDK if the H &/or h appear in any Devils of Dover book or if Bowen contemplates their re-appearance in a future one. Thus, this novella may be disappointment for fans of DoD series (or those who hoped King would get his own full-length book) & bonus for those of SoS.

NB: review also posted on Amazon but not sure when it will be processed & posted.

I really dig Kelly Bowen's writing! She has such a wonderful take of historical romances, it really is so much fun.

Alright, so this is my 2nd book by Ms. Bowen and I really love non-forced interweaving of Chegarre & Associates from the Duke of My Heart into the story. As I said, there could have been more nods, but again... only my 2nd book.

King is the ruthless Lord of London's underworld. Adeline or Andrestia is the procurer of lost objects and the hand of justice in some instances. From the first page, you are just sucked in. King happens upon Andrestia when she is being pursued by three ruffians in a dark alleyway and more than makes her way out of it. From the first meet, I really liked how King recognized and respected Adeline's skills and expertise. Their second meeting is a cluster for both of them but ends with King hiring Adeline for her services to aide in avenging a wrong done to King in his youth. It really ends up being a heartbreaking and sweet story of vengeance and retribution it is hard to imagine that it was only captured in less than 150 pages!

I really enjoyed the story and I absolutely love how Kelly Bowen writes strong and capable heroines mixed with intriguing stories. I highly recommend and am going to be searching for anything more I can find by the author.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

I'm a huge fan of Kelly Bowen and was so excited to see that King would finally get his story.
I've been intrigued by this character throughout a number of her books. His secrecy, deviousness and sometimes heart drew me in.
His story did not disappoint. I loved it. Every part of it. Loved that his heart went out to a woman a lot like him. Strong, intelligent and mysterious. I wanted to know everything about her right from the very beginning.
We get to find out all the little bits and pieces that made King the man he is. I had a tear or two but I also laughed a number of times as well.
Despite this being a novella, Kelly Bowen totally did this character justice. Pairing him with such a character as Adeline was perfect.
I highly recommend everyone read the Seasons for Scandal series first, as that's where you will be introduced to the antihero who is King.

3.5 Stars! This novella was a fun, interesting read and my first story by this author. Unfortunately, my only concern was that the beginning felt like somewhere in the middle of the story so I had some difficulty understanding who the characters were and what was going on. After reading this novella, I discovered one of my bookstagram friends, Lubnaa, had written in her own review that readers need to have read the Season for Scandal series to understand what’s happening. This information and knowing that this novella is not a standalone story is very important.

Despite my rating, I enjoyed Kelly Bowen’s writing style and the details I could gather without reading the Season for Scandal series immensely, and I would absolutely be interested in going back to the beginning and reading through her books. Overall, this novella is a quick read with flirtatious banter, an anti-hero to fall in love with, and great character development.

Adeline is determined to gain back what her family lost in the French Revolution. So when the man known as Kings asks for her services, she demands that he get her former home back for her. She is stunned when he agrees.

King is fascinated by Adeline from the moment he lays eyes on her. When he learns what she does for a living, he asks for her help to bring down the man that changed his life forever.

Working together to bring the man down, brings these two together. While both are drawn to the other, neither one ever lets anyone get close to them. Will they let their barriers down to find an everlasting love?

I absolutely adored King and Adeline's story!! I loved watching these two together. The chemistry between them practically leapt off the page! I was so happy to see King finally get his HEA!

While this is a part of the Devils of Dover series, you will get to visit some of your favorites from the Season for Scandal series.

3.5 stars.
A passionate romance between a strong, mysterious woman and a tortured man with a broken past, “Night of the Scoundrel”, by author Kelly Bowen (Forever Yours), is a well-written, enjoyable, quick read.
The leads’ previous stories are as relevant to the world building and the plot as the present events and Kelly Bowen manages to create deeply flawed yet very brave and strong characters, with an ingrained sense of honor.
King’s hated and wrath and wounds slowly begin to fade and heal with Adeline’s love and steadiness.
There’s confidence and dignity in the female lead, which I appreciated.
Sometimes a bit melodramatic tone and too much telling make the pace somewhat slow.

I loved Kelly Bowen's "Night of the Scoundrel," a unique and engaging tale featuring likeable characters that were incredibly well developed for such a short story. I was intrigued by the male lead character, King, when he was introduced in a previous story, so it was very exciting for me to learn more about him in this novella. At first, King seemed like such a contradiction because he was a leader of the criminal underworld but at the same time so urbane, demonstrating great interest in fine art and a talent for playing the piano. Given those interests, I wasn't surprised to learn that King was connected to the aristocracy in his childhood. It was nice to see him get the opportunity to reclaim some of his past after the trauma of his youth, as well as find a partner like Adeline who made him so happy.

Adeline was also an intriguing lead character. She had to find a way to survive on her own after losing her parents during the French Revolution, and she came up with a very clever, if unorthodox, way of doing so that allowed her to help others at the same time. I really admired Adeline's strength and independence, as well as her willingness to show her vulnerability with King, expressing her feelings for him even though she didn't know how he would respond. It was lovely that King and Adeline were able to bring light to each other's lives after they both experienced so much darkness in the past.

Even though this novella is nominally a part of the Devils of Dover series and follows up on King's appearance in the third book, it seems to me to be more strongly connected to the Season for Scandal series because the secondary characters who appear in this story were all featured in that series. Regardless of its connection to both of those series, this novella stands very well on its own. I have only read one or two of Ms. Bowen's earlier books but did not feel lost at any point, although it's possible that I would have enjoyed the story even more if I fully understood the characters' background and relationships.

At any rate, I very much look forward to reading more of Ms. Bowen's work in the future!

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

My review was posted to my blog as well as to my goodreads account. Both links are below:
Blog: https://mmariecarroll.wordpress.com/2019/11/30/night-of-the-scoundrel-by-kelly-bowen/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2838244408

I was generously provided an ARC by the publisher for an honest review.

Sexual violence and sex abuse are major plot points used across the romance genre. My day job is in the anti-sexual violence movement and so I will own that I am deeply critical of these novels. I am so critical because I view any novel that discusses sexual abuse as an opportunity to educate the public on the long term effects of victimization. And I take these opportunities seriously because sexual violence is endemic in our culture and we must take every chance possible to challenge rape culture.

Kelly Bowen’s newest novella Night of the Scoundrel revolves around a long forgotten and covered-up story of childhood sexual abuse. Bowen’s hero, King, is the mysterious art thief and smuggler introduced in the prior book. Our heroine is a young french exile whose unique skill set has allowed her to create a unique business–Adeline helps people get justice when all other avenues have failed.

It’s hard for me not to think of Jeffrey Epstein, whose countless victims will never get their day in court because of his early death while in police custody (this review is not interested in debating the many conspiracy theories surrounding his death and crimes). And it’s hard for me not to think of Donald Trump, who has nearly thirty women accusing him of sexual misconduct and is facing an impeach trial that has nothing to do with this victimization. These men along with many others, have faced and will face little to no accountability for the harm that they have caused. And this injustice makes me sick. Like myself, King is also disgusted by injustice. He hires Adeline to ruin the man who murdered his childhood playmate, and who has returned as a member of the British aristocracy.

I appreciate how Bowen clearly shows how political, economic, and cultural power can be wielded to cover-up the abuse of children. Today, just as in the regency era, those with privilege are better able to navigate the criminal legal system than those without money or power. Bowen accurately captures the many systems that the British aristocracy has at its disposal that can be weaponized against children, even children whose powerful parents want to make them disappear.

And while I enjoyed the book, my favorite part is how Bowen carefully handled discussing details of a character’s victimization. Many times in romance novels the reader is forced to relive the violence with the character. This can be extremely triggering for survivors and I don’t believe that these details improve the narrative. Bowen instead showed us she can hint at the actual violence without de-emphasizing the incredible toll the past assault had on the character. Bowen builds a fully fleshed out character whose experience of childhood violence subtly colors his entire life. Just like real survivors of childhood sexual violence, Bowen’s adult character must process their past in order to heal and move fully into the future.

I adored this novella. I have read all of Ms. Bowen’s books, and King has stolen the show in every single book. However, I was very curious as to how she would ever redeem this character, as he has done some terrible things. The fact that she pulled it off, especially when dealing with the limits of a novella, is truly impressive. Thank you for a wonderful read!

NIGHT OF THE SCOUNDREL is a story that I’ve been waiting for – King’s story – and what a tale it is. Frankly, I wish it had been a full-length novel as I don’t know what brings about the decision for a novella or a full-length story I cannot really comment but I was more than content with the story I got about a man who lingered on in my mind throughout two series. And the lady who was perfect for this anti-hero in so many ways, Adeline, was well worth waiting for their story to be told.

Neither King nor Adeline are as they appear on the surface. Both have deep secrets, take actions that they feel must be taken for their own reasons, neither allows glimpses behind their masks often yet there is a connection between them beyond their agreement. I loved discovering who Adeline was at heart, and I am so glad to know the true King and how he became the man he is or was. Adeline will bring walls down, but then so will King. This is a romance between two people who will heal each other from wounds they never believed possible to heal. It was one of those reader moments when King finally let down his guard and welcomed Adeline into his heart that truly won me in this story. I’ve wanted something truly good for King for so long and Adeline turned out to be exactly what this man needed.

Because King’s story begins not in the Devils of Dover series but back in the Seasons of Scandals series it’s hard for me to realistically suggest that you start from his beginning — but, for me, King’s story is completed here but began a while back, so if you possibly can read both series then I’d strongly suggest it. If you can’t buy them, perhaps your local library has them on the shelves. All those earlier stories are well worth the time and effort to enjoy, in my opinion. I loved King and Adeline’s story and would highly recommend it to any Historical Romance reader.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Night of the Scoundrel by Kelly Bowen is book 3.5 in The Devils of Dover Series. This is the story of Adeline and King. I have read the previous books which I think helped with my enjoyment and understanding of this one but you could make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. King is a mysterious underworld who has gotten the name King. King is out for revenge and needs the help of Adeline. Adeline is just a mysterious as King. When they start working together of course their feelings take over. I am a big fan of Ms. Bowen so this was a must read for me.

This historical romance novella hooked me from the start and didn't let me go. Night of the Scoundrel introduces readers to King, known in London as the ruthless lord of the underworld. He's hosting an auction in his home when he comes face-to-face the man who ruined his life. King is determined to seek vengeance and he enlists the help of Adeline, a woman who specializes in administering justice to right past wrongs. Along the way, Adeline and King both begin to let down their walls and trust each other.

This is a fast, emotional, and enjoyable read. King likes to pain himself as a cold man, but readers quickly see how he is willing to risk everything for those he cares about. His past trauma is slowly revealed to readers (some may want to a trigger warning for this type of backstory), and I thought Bowen handled the sensitive nature of it really well. King learned early on to trust no one but himself, and I loved reading how he learned to see himself as a different man: one who can trust, who can be happy, and who can admit to having a good heart. As for Adeline, talk about a rockstar heroine. Skilled with a blade and able to seamlessly blend into the darkness, she's a sly and powerful woman. They're equally matched in their skills, and their chemistry was sizzling.

This is the first book I've read by Kelly Bowen, and it felt like a fantastic introduction to her writing. Novellas can be so challenging, but here Bowen delivers a satisfying romance and character growth in under 140 pages.

Night of the Scoundrel is part of the Devils of Dover series. This novella can be read as a standalone, I'd definitely recommend this to fans of the Devils of Dover series, who have likely been waiting for King's story. New readers will find this to be a great introduction to Bowen's writing and series. Though if you're anything like me you'll finish reading and immediately want to dive into the other books!

The Alpha hero has a heart!

After seeing King, lord of London’s underworld pop up throughout the Devils of Dover series and cause trouble for our heroes and heroines, its nice to see his backstory.

King rules with an iron fist and lets no one in his inner circle. When you trust, that’s when you are the weakest… Miss Adeline Archarbault is not a stranger to loss and feeling powerless. Now a highly skilled vengeance maker, perhaps she can help King find the solace he needs and thaw his frozen heart…

This was a fast paced novella that grabs you from the beginning. I love a good story of the heartless badboy finding redemption and love, and King is the poster boy! This was an enjoyable read and has inspired me to look beeping in Kelly Bowen’s backlist to find the story of Kings friend Ashland! (A Duke to Remember). I like how this novella wraps up the Devils of Dover series by tying up this last characters loose end.


Night of the Scoundrel by Kelly Bowen was released November 26th, 2019.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#NightoftheScoundrel #KellyBowen #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads