Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (
Humor: Yes, I found quite a bit in here

This is book 1 of the series, but I do recommend reading at least Dangerous, which is book 1 of the Outcasts series. This will give you background on Gabriel’s mother and step father and also some character development for himself too. If you jump into this first, you may feel a bit overwhelmed by the all the characters and memories.

Drusilla has been in love with her best friends step sibling for years. He comes to her rescue when she’s compromised at a ball and they are forced into marriage.

Give this book a try if you want:
- Regency time period – This takes place in 1817 and we’re immersed in the London society whirl
- Best friend’s sibling trope – Drusilla and Eva are wallflowers together at many balls, Gabriel is her step brother
- Enemies to lovers feel – there’s a lot of banter and quarrelsome discussions between the two at first
- Full figured heroine – Drusilla is described as having voluptuous curves multiple times and a ‘generous’ figure, ‘tending towards plumpness’, and ‘not a small woman’ (and generally wears clothing unflattering to her body type)
- Jealous hero and heroine with plenty of other woman (OW) and other man (OM) drama
- Ruined heroine – Drusilla is compromised at the first ball in the book
- Wallflower and the rake trope - <i> Could there be anything more pitiful than a homely wallflower yearning for an arresting, attractive Corinthian? </i>The heroine has had 3 seasons and only one offer of marriage (she has a huge dowry) and the hero has been <spoiler> having sexual encounters since he was 14 </spoiler>
- Unrequited love – heroine has loved the hero for a number of years
- A slow burn – there’s no kisses or touches until halfway through
- You’re all right with experiencing a few moments where you want to shake the characters and tell them to communicate!
- Moderate steam – 3 scenes but they are super explicit!

I do think Drusilla’s character deserved a bit more...depth? She seemed like she had such a strong background and personality but when she gets married she becomes a bit of a self conscious, self doubting ninny and never really explores those feminist roots she had set down in the beginning. Maybe we will see more of her future in the other stories, but I was curious if she was going to continue her work in relation to following the writings of Mary Wollstonecraft.

But all that aside, I absolutely adored this story. I got sucked in quickly with their banter that I actually found funny, and I was curious how it was going to work out. I feel like so many enemies to lovers lack this now – its fight argue, kiss, argue, kiss, fight oh hey we love each other. I didn’t get that here, thank goodness! I got my favorite part of enemies to lovers – the sparring that builds tension. He genuinely thought Drusilla despised him but I thought he tried to make the best of the situation and went forward level headed. I thought he did a number of romantic things, including his proposal, his determination to protect her honor. I get many hate jealousy but I even found that romantic! I may have a different perspective of this element because I grew up on dubcon/noncon of the 80s so I was used to serious mistreatment of the heroine by the hero in regards to jealousy and I didn’t find that here. There were issues, yes, but I have felt those things myself and had similar reactions to Gabriel in previous relationships where you are wondering/assuming things that are happening in your relationship. The hurt that just rips your insides. The scariness of losing your relationship and the hurt that they don’t love you back.

I think maybe that’s what I enjoyed so much about this book. It just felt like the characters were very real. The flaws were real and rather ugly. And while I did want more growth from them overall, I feel like I definitely got to see their relationship and trust grow and blossom. And I really loved that aspect to it.

I adore Spencer’s intimate scenes. Like, these were the best I’ve read in awhile. I was utterly lost with Gabriel and Drusilla in the best way. My heart absolutely clenched for them.

I did have a few minor issues with the book. I think Spencer likes to spend a lot of time on some things that I’m ready to move forward from and not enough on other things (I felt like this with her Outcasts series too). The ending was pretty abrupt and the epilogue was basically the set up of the next story (I’m assuming we will see more of these characters throughout the series though).

Oh! And I never really got to hear how the meeting went with Drusilla and Gabriel’s mistresses! I am upset about that. The scene cut off and I was disappointed but I assumed it would be covered later and it wasn’t really except for a brief acknowledgment.

I actually liked the ending. I thought it was a nice twist with the heroine usually getting kidnapped and the hero having to rescue her. :)

Notorious is the first book in the Rebels of the Ton series. It was well written and drew me in from the beginning. It was a typical marriage of convenience storyline, but the couple was in caught in a compromising position due to an enemy. Drusilla is the typical wallflower who is happy not being married but is forced into marrying the man she has loved since she met him. Gabriel is a player with a reputation, but Drusilla is his sister’s best friend, so they are forced to endure each other’s presence. Drusilla uses her sharp-tongue and wit to keep her desire for Gabriel hidden. Can they make a marriage between themselves work?
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book definitely had potential to be really good. I liked the characters on the surface level. Then we had to get to know them....

Dru was sharply intelligent and I appreciated that. I love a strong woman lead. Her and Gabriel liked to banter and that's my favorite. It wasn't funny though. After the first few chapters Gabriel was a suuuuuper jerk most of the time. Dru turned into this, not exactly cowering but definitely not a strong female like she was. I was around the 250 page and just wanted to quit.

I can't say that this book redeemed itself in anyway for me.

London 1817

A regency adventure that pulls out all the stops.
Drusilla, the heroine, has a strange way of dealing with Gabe, stepbrother to her friend Eva. She was constantly in is company since he escorted Eva. Unfortunately, the way she dealt with her attraction to him was to provoke and annoy him, because she knew he would never find her attractive so she lashed out.

Gabe had his own thoughts of Drusilla. She was only twenty one but dressed as an older matron. It was her superior attitude that irked him. But he was a rake and there was a secret or two he had that would come out when he took a wife.

A different journey to a happy ever after, with a marriage of convenience and a long road to these two show their true feelings and emotions!

If you like the following romance tropes, you might enjoy this book:
- Best friend's brother
- Ugly duckling
- Enemies to lovers
- Compromised / forced to marry

Minerva Spencer is an extremely able Regency romance author. She tends to write highly developed plots and characters. Her books are exciting and addictive (as in, I read this 3-book series in one day, staying up until 4 a.m. to finish). Personally, I prefer organic, character-driven stories. While I enjoy her books, they don't grab me emotionally. Still, this book is a good romp with a fast-paced plot..

The hero and heroine in this story are profoundly unlikable. Spencer is brilliant at redeeming unlikable characters, and she did so in this book. Yet what makes books memorable for me are the characters I love. I did not love these characters.

The following elements kept this from being a five-star book for me.
- The purpose of banter is to show that even if the two characters don't like each other, there's a compatibility of mind between them. The banter here didn't strike me as witty or charming. Dru was toxic. In the beginning of the book, she doesn't love Gabriel. She doesn't even like him. She's powerfully sexually attracted to him—but in fact she loathes him based on the gossip she hears and her own negative self-image. That may not be what the author wants us to believe, but that's what Dru's thoughts and behavior show.
- The feminism and multicultural aspects feel like a brittle glaze to me. It was a bit "the lady doth protest too much, methinks." Gabriel's upbringing as the son of a sultan would be part of his identity. Dru's feminism would be part of her identity. It's inauthentic (and IMO, a little distasteful) to show them performing their identities to the extent they do in this book.

Content warnings:
- The half-Arab, half-English hero is described as having auburn hair and green eyes.
- The feminist heroine is continually called a girl, despite being twenty-one years old.
- Ableist language: "lamely" to mean "weakly"; "leper" to mean "outcast".

Kensington, if you can't do better than this, please hire some sensitivity readers.

Sexy, mysterious, and an all-around who done it cast of characters. I love historical romance done right and this novel hit all the right notes for me

Notorious by Minerva Spencer
Book #1: Rebels of the Ton Series
Source: NetGalley and Purchase
Rating: 4½/5 stars

Gabriel Marlington has spent his life as an outsider. Oh, make no mistake, the Ton puts on quite a show of accepting him, but mothers everywhere are certainly not clamoring for their daughters to marry Gabriel despite his title and fortune. In truth, there is only woman who would be beyond pleased to marry Gabriel Marlington, but she certainly isn’t going to tell him that!

Drusilla Clare is, much like Gabriel, a grudgingly accepted member of the Ton. She is ridiculously wealthy, cultured, witty, and intelligent, but her father made their fortune as a shop owner. Yes, Dru’s money comes from good old fashioned hard work rather than inheritance, and for that, she is largely shunned. The exception to the shunning is Dru’s best friend who also happens to be Gabriel’s stepsister. For years now, Dru has been among Gabriel’s family and though she has grown to love Gabriel, she has no intention of making her feelings known. Gabriel has always made it quite clear, Dru is little more than a mouthy irritant who is only worth his time when he is in the mood for a little verbal sparring.

Fate is a funny figure and while she often appears capricious or even fickle, it often turns out she knows better than most and her actions are reasonable once the whole event plays out. Of course, in the beginning, folks like Dru and Gabrielle have no compassion nor understanding for Fate and her machinations, especially when they find themselves unexpectedly engaged following circumstances beyond their control.

Oh, yes! While Dru is secretly pleased with her circumstances in some ways, she also feels terrible to be tying Gabriel to a life he clearly doesn’t want. Though her feelings are certainly mixed, Dru decides she will do her level best to make the best of the situation even if her new husband isn’t willing to do so. For his part, Gabriel is determined to make the best of the situation even if his new wife clearly has no desire to be with him. Wouldn’t it be some kind of wonderful if the two actually spoke to one another? 😊 Of course, actually talking to one another would eliminate a great deal of the drama and tension and make this read so much less fun!

The Bottom Line: I quite liked this book, and I especially liked the very feisty nature of Dru and Gabriel; both are strong-willed, opinionated characters who are actually perfectly suited for one another if they can get past their own hang ups. Adding to the tension of this read is the mess created by a particularly odious member of the Ton whose goal in life is seemingly to ruin Gabriel. With all the intrigue and reckless behavior, it is hard for Gabriel and Dru to come together as a couple; on the flip side, all the intrigue and reckless behavior also creates a wonderful dynamic that also (eventually) draws them together. I found the whole affair to be quite entertaining and am quite glad the Ton is full of characters just waiting to tell their own story.

This was my first Minerva Spencer novel but I will definitely be reading more. I enjoyed the liveliness of the writing. The dialogue was snappy and fresh. The characters were realistic and had many fun quirks. The story played out well. I really enjoyed this fun historical romance.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, it did take me a few sittings to read, but this was more due to being in the mood for thrillers rather than to do with the book.

The characters were interesting and the author has a witty style of writing which was enjoyable

In this book you could definitely see the heroine’s strong character. She independent and definitely knows what she wants. It has all the elements of a historical romance, and it completely draws you in. Overall I enjoyed it. I would definitely read more books by this author.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this Arc in exchange for a honest review...

I like the idea of this story, olden day love story, boy and girl bicker back and forth, have to marry and some duels. After a few chapters I kept getting lost, it felt all too fast, but I guess that's how they did it back in those days. I didn't finish it but I will most definitely pick this book up again in the near future!

Notorious (Rebels of the Ton #1). By Minerva Spencer. Kensington. 2020. (ARC eBook).

When Miss Drusilla Clare and Gabriel Marlington are caught in a perceived compromising situation, they accept marriage to avoid scandal. Gabriel is confused by Dru, as she is cold and judgmental toward him. Yet, in truth, Dru has had a crush on her best friend’s brother for many years. But Gabriel isn’t an easy hero for Dru to understand as he was raised in a Barber tribe whose culture consisted of sultans and harems; of which, his own mother was a part of. But underneath his roguish ways, he has a good heart. And beneath her icy demeanor towards him, Dru is a passionate women. But as they try to reconcile, misunderstandings and revenge plots ensue.

Notorious was an adventure. Sometimes you want to root for Gabriel and Dru, and sometimes you want to strangle them. The plot was interesting, with some turns here and there. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to the next in the series.

The beginning of this novel had me excited for a showdown between strong, sarcastic characters ready to fall in love with the enemy-to-lovers trope. Drucilla was the strong female lead I wanted and Gabriel the overly attractive male who underestimates her, yet comes to see her strength and beauty, not necessarily physical, as they fall madly in love. This is what I was envisioning and hoping for...but the further I got into the novel the more I struggled liking either character. It was about halfway through that I realized they hardly ever spoke or discussed what they were really thinking/feeling about each other, believing rumors and hearsay, and I struggled with how idiotic they seemed to me because of this. The plot was all right, though nothing new, and I did enjoy several moments, but couldn’t help but want something more out of this love story.

Spunky, delightful,and a little sexy. A regency novel with heart and spice. The lead character opts for a single life in a time when marriage is topic one . It doesn’t help that she develops a crush on a singularly notorious unusual young man. There is a lot going on in this effort, abduction, a harem, union woes. It all shakes out in the end, but it is an end with a twist you should enjoy without clues. Happy reading

NOTORIOUS - Rebels of the Ton Series Book 1
Minerva Spencer

Mnerva Spencer has a huge following for her previous novels and historical fiction writing and though this is the first book I have read from her, I can understand why she has such an awesome fan base of readers.

I found the writing witty, sexy and fun for a historical romance fiction that I have enjoyed and read through over a weekend. The pacing was great, and the characters I did enjoy reading about. The characters were from her other novels though I found it easy to jump into the story without the background information. I think this is a great start of a series set in the Victorian time period with lots of interesting characters that I enjoyed with Drusilla and Gabriel's relationship and their undeniable chemistry. A fun enemies to lovers trope that is both angsty, sexy and swoony.

I really enjoyed this one and need to read more of Ms Spencer's books.

This was a really interesting read as we get a unique hero for the era in that he's a poc main character and had good tropes such as best friend's brother and lots of banter/animosity between the leads, However, I felt as though Gabriel's non-white side could have been explored more since we didn't get too much information on that. Also, I struggled to like Minerva's character which made it hard for me to become attached to the couple.

Still, this was a solid historical romance read, and the writing style captures you.

Review excerpted from my blog post over at Titillated Termagant Romance Reviews (https://titillatedtermagant.wordpress.com/2021/01/27/notorious-by-minerva-spencer/)

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.

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Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Medium burn

Relationship dynamics: The Half-English Sultan’s Son (H) / The Wolstonecraftian Miss (h)

Physical descriptions: Gabe is described as tall and broad, with dark auburn hair, emerald eyes, and a hawkish nose. Drusilla is described as being plain, tall, and “tending toward plumpness” with brown hair and grey eyes.

Sexual content: Some; on-page and explicit

Triggers: Kidnap; murder

Grammar/Editing: This ARC had a fair few typos.

Review: This moderately paced book is set in London in 1817. The author seems to have done a fairly standard level of research to effectively portray the setting, but nothing out of the usual way.

The main characters in this book are Gabriel and Drusilla. The characters felt inconsistent, as if the beginning and end of the book were written together, and the middle was written entirely separately. They start out one way, morph into their complete opposites, then morph back again. Their problems are largely caused by poor communication and a poor attitude on Gabe’s part (he doesn’t listen, and cuts Drusilla off constantly), which is not my favourite plot device. Drusilla is also one of those characters that is billed as confident, strong, outspoken, etc, but who – as soon as she is with the hero – forgets how to speak and becomes quite meek and freezes like a deer in headlights. The supporting characters are developed well enough for the story with a clear view to who will be featured in the next book in the series. I found the villains to be a bit of a mixed bag, with clear motivations in one case and a serious lack of the same in the other, as if the author realized part way through writing that they may need to be somehow redeemable, but then forgot to review how far she had already developed them.

Overall, this book was enjoyable enough that I will give the second installment in the series a shot.

Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book from Minerva Spencer. I appreciate that she includes diverse characters in her books. I look forward to reading more from this series in the future. Overall I give this one 3.5 stars.

From the moment I saw the cover of this book, I knew that it was going to be amazing! I certainly was not disappointed! Notorious is one of the best regency romances that I have read and now definitely one of my favorites. It’s right up there for me with the Bridgertons, Ravenels, and Wildes of Lindow Castle. Drusilla is every woman’s ideal leading regency lady; strong willed, unapologetically outspoken, and financially independent. Not to mention her relationship with Gabriel mirrors Penelope and Colin throughout the Bridgerton series. This book was supported with the perfect mix of quirky characters and an intriguing plot that kept me turning the pages. I can’t wait to see how this series continues and have already pre-ordered the next installment.