<strong>Good Golly Ms. Molly…Nicholas was everything I wanted and more! </strong>
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Overall Rating: 5 I simply love this series Stars
Kindle Unlimited: No
Standalone: Yes
Steam: 3 there is some steamy times but there is more story than steam flames!
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When I read Heart of a Hellion, I met Nicholas, and from the minute I met him, I knew I needed his story. Quiet, closed off, injured war hero; I just knew his story and secrets would be good. Though he was only in book 2 for a moment, he captured my attention. In book three, I get to learn so much more about Mr. Gillingham and what makes him tick.
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Nicholas is yet another one of the previous Duke of Roseford's “by-blows”; Nicholas was raised by his mother and a man she later married, the Earl of Bramwell’s Man of Affairs. The man raised Nicholas as his own in the Earl of Bramwell's house. Nicholas was raised next to the Earl’s children a son and daughter. A young Nicholas, fell in love with the Earl's daughter Aurora, and wanted to marry her. One day he went to her father and told him his plans. That night he lost his love to another man...he left that night for the Army. The handsome, quiet Nicholas became a war hero and exhibited extreme bravery that left him severely injured saving his friends lives. It has taken him two years to literally get back on his feet and he may never be 100%. Nicholas has a lot of scars, both inside and out.
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Because of his bravery, there is talk that the Prince may bestow a title on him of Marquess of Songstrum. It seems that Nicholas is finally going to have everything he always wanted (well almost everything), he will be in control of his own life, he will be his own man with power and control. His half-brother the current Duke of Roseford feels it is best to have a party at his estate with some very important and notable Aristocrats so Nicholas can get his name out there and let people meet him...sort of pave the way to title hood. But of course, that would be too simple. Nine years later, it looks like our two young lovers will be running into each other again.
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We meet Aurora as she is searching for her best friend in the sleaziest of sleaze brothel. Her friend Imogen has been missing and Aurora is determined to find her. Both women are down on their luck after their husbands both died just months apart, leaving them penniless. They have bonded over terrible marriages and become close and the deaths of their husbands made them closer. But Imogen’s situation was dire, so she went in search of a protector…in the wrong place. Aurora dons a disguise as she goes to look for Imogen, but unfortunately, someone grabs her thinking she is a working girl and as she wrestles away, she loses her disguise...and at that point she loses her reputation. It does not matter why she is there; she is now doomed in societies eyes.
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After the event she runs into Katherine, the Duke or Roseford's wife, who has a heart of gold and tells her the whole story and Katherine invites her to the Duke of Roseford's estate for the party. Aurora is sure it will be fine as she has heard Nicholas never attends family functions. I feel an unexpected meeting about to happen! Yep, after nine years, Aurora and Nicholas are about to run into each other again....and not only that, they are the only two single people at the party.
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This story was fantastic, there are twists, turns, betrayals, truths, steam, and love. Swoon. There were points I held my breath and there were points when I wanted to yell at one or both of our main characters, and then there were points were my heart felt like it would just explode. By the end of the book I was more in love with Nicholas and had fallen in love with Aurora.

Will two first loves be able to find love again? Can they let the past hurts go and move forward? Can Nicholas get his title if he associates himself with Aurora with her reputation in tatters? I will not tell you will have to read the book. What I will tell you, is you will not be disappointed and that there is another by-blow...Mr. Oscar Fitzhugh....ohhhhh myyy gooodness, he has a story to tell and I am already counting down to his story.

This book/series gets all my recommendations. If you are looking for an easy to read, entertaining, second chance love story with some steam times and a great story. Look no further, this is the book for you!
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Aurora, Viscountess Lovell, has never stopped loving the man she grew up with, even though she was never able to be with him, entering an arranged marriage to a titled nobleman to please her father instead after her love left her to go off to war. Now widowed and embroiled in a nasty scandal, Aurora is trying to cope and locate her missing friend when an invitation to a country house comes from a new friend and she finds she can’t refuse.

War hero Nicholas Gillingham has never felt he belonged anywhere. He’s stuck between two worlds as the bastard son of the former Duke of Roseford but raised by a servant. Now he’s up for a gifted title of marquess in recognition of his heroic actions in war. Nicholas is surprised by how much he truly wants that title, a way to ensure he’s never helpless again as he was nine years ago when Aurora’s father laughed at his marriage proposal. But to secure the title, Nicholas needs to make some connections, so when his half-brother, the current Duke of Roseford, invites him to a country house party, he agrees to attend.

The nine years between them seem to shrink in an instant when Aurora and Nicholas meet once again. The chemistry between them is electric, but there’s also a wealth of betrayal and resentment, not to mention that Aurora’s scandal could destroy Nicholas’ hopes for a title. With so much in their way, their second chance could wind up causing even more pain than the first.

This is definitely my favorite of the series thus far. Second chance tropes are often very hit or miss for me because I have a hard time getting over my sadness at the wasted time and separation. This was well done in that the future was the focus, rather than the past, and Nicholas and Aurora didn’t waste much time in resentment but were honest with each other fairly early on. These two had a ridiculous amount of chemistry and glorious steam. Their connection was palpable and their devotion to each other made them a couple I loved. Now I’m very much looking forward to a story for Fitzhugh and Imogen.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Viscountess Aurora Lovell has been in love with one man her entire life, but nine years ago he suddenly left to join the army. She came to accept it, marrying for title rather than love. Now a widow, she’s busy trying to figure out how to manage a scandal about to destroy her world when she is invited to a country party. Desperate to escape the realities of her life, she accepts. Nicholas Gillingham has always lived his life between two worlds. Raised by a lord’s man of affairs, but secretly the base born son of the infamous Duke of Roseford, he never felt he belonged. Injured saving others, he is now a war hero and improbably in line to be gifted a title for his service. To influence the right people, he needs his brother Robert’s help and finds himself at a country party.
Time and distance mean nothing when Aurora and Nicholas meet again. But can they overcome a tangled past filled with bitter betrayal, a scandal that could ruin the future
This is the third book in the series about the Duke of Roseford's by blows & how his once rake of a son Robert is doing his best to bring his half siblings together. Nicholas & Aurora were first friends as children but fell in love as they grew into teenagers & wanted to marry but were separated, now nine years later they meet again & sparks fly. An enthralling captivating read which I loved. Strong characters & a story that flows effortlessly meant I was captivated from star to finish, throw in an adorable mastiff for the icing on the cake. A lovely second chance romance where misunderstandings & secrets need to be revealed before the pair can move forward then there’s the scandal she's embroiled in & he's trying to win approval to gain a title, which also need to be resolved. I‘m loving the series & eagerly looking forward to Giles’ story
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

When two lovers torn apart years ago meet again, can they trust the other ...

At first I thought it would be a trilogy as 3 half siblings were introduced first, but I was wrong as a new and intriguing one took his first steps here.
But first Nicholas and Aurora’s tale.
Like many wronged lovers, they were separated because their love was unwelcome by their family, more precisely, her father.
Nicholas having lost all hope to win his lady love, left to become a soldier, doing such he came back a hero but nearly lost his life in the process.
And while he is certain to hate Aurora, she still lingers in the edge of his mind.
Aurora was married off or more precisely sold off by her father for a supposed alliance. She was not precisely mistreated but it was not a happy union, as testament her husband’s death circumstances.

When they rekindle their relationship, it is to realize time did not extinguish the flame of their attraction. But will it be enough to get past their hurt and open their heart again?
As they are not any more the young lovers they once were, scandal and ambition are now working against them.

A lovely steamy 4 stars tale.
I was granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

I LOOOOOVED THIS BOOK!! 

I love everything about this whole series, and I have been anxiously awaiting Nicholas' story. I love the wounded warrior trope. Nicholas is the best of them. I also love the separated childhood sweethearts trope, so this story is literal gold for me. 

Nicholas is an absolute sweetheart. Aurora is a total bad ass. I love them both! 

This story is sweet, with a little bit of hot! Just the way *uh-huh uh-huh* I like it! It might even be a little more fire than the rest of the series. It is h-o-t HOT. I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with old friends in this book. Most of the book takes place at a house party with some long beloved characters. There is also a dog. 100% Pro doggo. 

This book rocks! I cannot wait for the rest of the bastards!

The Matter of a Marquess is the third book in the delightfully steamy The Duke's By-Blows series by Jess Michaels. This one may be the hottest yet! It can stand alone perfectly well if you haven't read the previous books; however, the family dynamics are very interesting - and touching - and you'll be missing out on some great scenes if you don't catch up first.

Viscountess Aurora Lovell is in a bit of a pickle. While searching for her missing dearest friend (in a brothel!) she is recognized and her reputation is in complete tatters. The Duchess of Roseford, she of the soft heart, invites the widowed and disgraced Viscountess to her family's house party to show she is accepted by the Duke and his friends to help her reputation. Nicholas Gillingham, the illegitimate half-brother of Roseford, was raised by a servant and joined the army nine years ago when he was seemingly thrown over by his love. He was severely injured during an act of bravery during the war, and is in line to be gifted the title of Marquess for his service to the crown. Roseford invites him to the house party so Nicholas can meet some influential men who can possibly put in a good word for him. Imagine his surprise when he sees his lost love Aurora at the house party!

This book is a beautiful second-chance romance between two people in love who each thought the other abandoned them. Aurora has come down in the world, left penniless by her unfaithful husband when he died. Nicholas, on the other hand, looks to be moving up into the peerage. When they are reunited, they are both still deeply hurt and feel betrayed. The love, though, apparently still exists between them. I wanted to yell at both of them to talk about what really happened! True love can't die, however, though it sometimes needs some help from a huge bullmastiff named Fortescue. This book was particularly steamy. However, Ms. Michaels has a lovely way of writing love scenes that show the emotions that go with the act, not just the mechanics. My favorite scenes in the book, though, were the relationships amongst the Duke of Roseford and his illegitimate step-brothers and step-sister. That's where the love shines the brightest. I can't wait to read about Oscar Fitzhugh, another illegitimate sibling. There don't seem to be any warm fuzzies there!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Nicolas Gillingham, one of the bastard children of the now deceased Duke of Roseford, is injured in the war. When he returns to London he's offered a title, but it takes approval from the peerage for him to get it.. Nicolas thinks a title will give him what he lost nine years ago. Aurora and Nicolas grew up together as children, but class distinction and lies enforced by her father drove them apart. Aurora's reputation is now in tatters from trying to help a friend. She and Nicolas have a second chance, but he must choose the title or Aurora..
Explicit sex and a couple who deserve to be together. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This is another lovely entry in the retitled Duke's By-Blows series. This is Nicholas' story: the war hero who we discover was pushed onto the battlefield by a misunderstanding in his past and things weren't exactly what they seem.

This felt like two different books at times. The pace starts off slow, as Nicholas and Aurora dance around each other at a house party all while avoiding the conversation that they needed to have to resolve the main conflict of the relationship. At first, I was thinking this just needed to be a novella. But then the conversation happens and the book deepens with its conflicts, and I absolutely loved that. Nicholas, for all of his stoicism, shows that he did need to mature in key ways. The second half of the story is very much a wild ride, but a very enjoyable one, and it left me practically salivating for the next book in the series.

Beyond the romantic relationship, this book shows the absolute strength that Jess Michaels has in writing familial relationships. The relationship between Nicholas and his siblings is beautifully explored, and it very refreshing to see a father figure that is loving and not abusive. I feel like this is an exception rather than the norm in the genre. These relationships, more than anything, make the book shine.

Nicholas Gillingham has always lived his life between two worlds as the bastard son of a Duke and the adopted son of an estate manager. At an early age he feel in love with Earl’s daughter and asks for her hand in marriage and finds out a title is more important to her than he is. He ends up joining the army after her rejection and he’s severely injured and becomes a war hero. Widowed Viscountess Aurora Lovell has been in love with one man her entire life and she doesn’t expect to see him at a house party she’s attending. I love second chance love stories, the misunderstanding that has kept them apart. At first it’s a great shock to see one another after ten years, but it soon becomes quite apparent neither has been able to forget their love for one another, but can they learn to trust their love again. I loved the emotional turmoil and the story behind this book as Nicholas is trying to earn a title for heroism so he can become a better man in London’s society the eyes to give him the power over his destiny, power only a title can give him. I have voluntarily read and reviewed the excellent book.

Series: The Duke’s Bastards #3
Publication Date: 8/18/20
Number of Pages: 242

This is a great addition to the Duke’s Bastards series (or The Duke’s By-Blows since Amazon doesn’t like the word Bastards). As always, I loved the characters, the steaminess, the plot and, of course, the writing was first-class. I loved Nicholas in the last book especially and could hardly wait for his book – and it was well worth the wait. While the book is part of a series, you can read it as a standalone. I can’t imagine why you’d want to do that because the series is wonderful – but you can.

Lady Aurora Lovell and Nicholas Gillingham grew up together and then they loved each other, and then they went their separate ways. They didn’t part deliberately – each thought the other had betrayed them – but parted they were – for almost ten years. She married – unhappily – and he became a badly wounded war hero.

Aurora, now a widow, leaves London for a house party at the Duke of Roseford’s estate because she is in the middle of a scandal. She was caught in a brothel while looking for her best friend – trying to rescue her. No matter the reason she was there, she is forever tarnished.

Nicholas has been trying to recover from his grievous wounds for the past two years and while he is greatly improved, he’s not completely healed. Since he was injured saving others – including a nobleman’s son – the crown has been considering bestowing a Marquessate on him. He REALLY wants that marquessate! He wants that power that goes with it so nothing can ever be taken from him again. ** I’m sure the author must have researched it, but, I thought the crown could bestow a title when, where, and to whom they wanted. This book makes it seem as if there has to be a campaign and meetings and…. Well, you name it. **

Nicholas’s half-brother, Robert, decides to have a house party and invite many guests of influence to help Nicholas in his quest for the title. Robert’s wife also invites a new friend to the party. When those two meet – WOW! Nicholas’s breath is sucked right out of his body and Aurora’s jaw drops. How could this be? It is like they never parted – and in their hearts, they never did.

Will Aurora and Nicholas let the past keep them from having a future? Can each forgive the other and themselves? What will happen with the Marquessate if Nicholas associates himself with scandal-ridden Aurora? Can Aurora find and rescue her friend? Oh! My Goodness – you’ll just have to read the book to find out. BTW – there is a nice set-up for the next book – and it looks like it will be a great read as well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Young love torn apart by those with evil intentions but still strong enough to endure years of pain and heartache.

Nicholas Gillingham mistakenly believed a lie told to him by the father of his beloved Aurora. While he ran away to war, she was matched in marriage to another.

At a house party arranged by his brother, Robert, the Duke of Roseford, Nicholas is brought back to his days of insecurity and pain upon seeing Aurora arrive. Will a tragic misunderstanding from their youth keep them apart once again or will love finally win out?

I have been waiting for Nicholas Gillingham"a story for quite some time and this book did not disappoint. As with the rest in the series, I love seeing Robert work to win over his siblings with the help of his fellow Duke's Club members.

Great read!

4 stars

Another book in the 'Duke's Bastards' series. I've read the first and now the third. Nicholas lived on Aurora's estate as his papa was her father's steward. They were in love and Nicholas asked for her hand. Needless to say it didn't go down well and the upshot was that Nicholas left and went to war. He was badly injured and in the meantime Aurora was made to marry Lord Lovell. Lovell dies and Aurora is left in dire straits, not quite as bad as her friend Imogen. Aurora tries to rescue Imogen and that's when she's deemed ruined and needs the help of Nicholas powerful step brother. The romance is good and the passionate scened well written. I suppose my only quibble is whether men of that era wore beards? I think the Author likes them as most of her hero's in the series have them! I think you will enjoy this episode and I'm looking forward to Oscar and Imogen's story.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This series just keeps getting more and more exciting! This time it's Nicholas' story and when he returns from the war, a wounded hero, he comes face to face with the woman who had broken his heart 9 years earlier. I loved his character and you really feel for him....it's not easy not knowing where you really belong.

Aurora is also a lovable character and the air just sizzles when she meets Nicholas again!! Not being able to resist their passion, they try to overcome past hurts and eventually the truth of what really happened all these years ago is revealed. In the meanwhile, she has his family helping her find her best friend who has disappeared and I really enjoyed seeing many of the characters from the previous books in the series.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Another great story from Jess Michaels. Nicholas was injured during the war, but had left the army after losing his love, Aurora, to a marriage to a titled man. Aurora is a widow now and searching for her friend and Nicholas is hoping to finally be given a title after his war efforts.

Love the rekindled romance between Nicholas and Aurora and the friendships that develop in this book. I look forward to Oscar and Imogen’s story!

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

Dark and brooding, just the way I like them and can’t get enough of them. Come on, tell me you don’t like a war hero with an injury who has in the past been spurned, or so he thinks by an old love. Yep, catnip. Normally I enjoy quite a bit of angst in books and there is some in this book but once Nicholas and Aurora started talking they get along and I like how they opened up to each other. It is just the “I cannot harm you so I am doing this for you” kind of stuff. I thought their love story was wonderful and heartwarming. I loved seeing a lot of the 1797 characters as well as the other by-blows.

Once again meddling parents have to try and ruin a perfect love story. Nicholas is so happy to have his family by his side. Although at times he seems to regret it. Aurora is equally lucky that they are choosing to stand by her. Whether family by blood or out of love this family sticks together.

The Matter of the Marquess is the story of another of the late Duke of Roseford's bastards, Nicholas Gillingham, who is up for a title, the defunct Marquess of Songstrum, after his bravery, and subsequent injuries, during the Napoleonic Wars. He needs the connections of his half-brother, the current Duke, to help him gain this title, which he needs in order to finally feel as though he has some power. As a youngster, he was raised by his step-father, the man of affairs to the Earl of Bramwell, and was educated alongside the Earl's children, including his beautiful daughter, Aurora. Both Nicholas and Aurora were in love, and wished to marry, but Bramwell completely refused him, because he had no title, and Aurora was to marry Viscount Lovell. Aurora never knew Nicholas had been refused, and always thought he abandoned her to a loveless marriage. She never forgot Nicholas, and wished him well during his long recovery, even when her own husband died, and left her in a difficult situation. With her and her best friend, Isobel, both widowed and penniless, they need to do whatever they can to survive, and this leaves Isobel falling into the clutches of brothels, and going missing. While searching for Isobel in the most notorious brothel of all, Aurora is seen, and the scandal is too much. She is invited to the Roseford's for a house party by the benevolent Duchess, and meets Nicholas again. Will they manage to talk through their past, and lost love, or will the nearly 10 years of anger be too much?

I think this might be my favourite of The Duke Bastards series. Both of the main characters were so intriguing, especially Nicholas who we had met before, and I was wholly invested in their love story from the get go. Perhaps their relationship as children and young adults was part of this, but their story felt the most natural and real of them all. Aurora was a character you couldn't help but love, who had been dealt a difficult hand in life, but was managing through it all. Her husband was not kind, and left her with nothing, and it was only the little help her family could give her that helped her survive more comfortably than her friend, Isobel. Aurora cared for all those in her life who she loved, and Nicholas was no different in this. She'd always, and would always love him, and when he was injured, it broke something inside of her. For Nicholas, it was very much the same, also. When the shell exploded, and he thought he would die, Aurora was his last thought, and the effort he put in to try and gain the title was in order to take back some of the control he sorely lacked when he first offered for Aurora. Together, throughout this book, they work through their past issues, and rekindle their lost love, once and for all. The introduction of the Roseford children as a true family was clearly evident too, and I'm really looking forward to the fourth book, The Redemption of a Rogue, which I think is about the eldest bastard, Oscar Fitzhugh and Isobel.

Maybe I am growing up but I felt like it need more. I don't know it felt like a the same recipe of romance novels. A poor guy/girl in love with a rich girl/guy. Meaningless Sex than marriage the end. Granted there is always more to the story but maybe I am just looking for more depth more meaning. Read this book if you like don't take my opinion to heart