I received this book for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

this book surprised me with how well it was written I enjoyed it immensely the characters were so fun and steamy as well.

This league of extraordinary gentlemen and ladies are delightful. This story focuses on Delaney an American heiress and Sebastian a duke with power to start fires by his emotions. Delaney has a gift of being able to remember everything she sees and can bring it up like opening a book and and reading it. She is brought to the league because she is being blackmailed into finding out their secrets. You will be totally surprised with who the blackmailer is. Sebastian tries so hard not to fall for Delaney, you know because of the whole fire thing, but her fiery spirit makes him want her more. When you think about hot stuff, this couple is it. L

I was so happy to receive an ARC of this book! I have been following the League of Lords Series and have truly enjoyed the first two books. I couldn’t wait for Sebastian’s story.

These books are so much different than what I am I’m used. It’s like a mix of X-Men with the steamy, historical romance. It’s very engaging and such a treat!

Delaney Temple, our America heroine, has the gift of storing so much information in her head. Her attic she calls it. She reads and absorbs information in seconds and stores it in her attic. She also constantly goes back to read some more and check when she needs more info. She is being blackmailed by an unknown source, to infiltrate the League of Lords and obtain information needed by the blackmailer.

Sebastian, the Duke of Ashcroft, is committed to help his new family. The one that has accepted him in their fold. Making him one of their own when his own family did not accept him. He is our serious, moody hero. Looking to marry within the community of those that have the special gift, to procure a heir. He is taken a back by Delaney. She is spirited and spunky. Not afraid to back down or go toe to toe with Sebastian. Knowing her gift will always separate her from society. Her twin the only one that can understand her and protect her, She was very hesitant to join the League of Lords, yet somehow unable to be drawn to them, especially with the information she is needing to find from them.

I really enjoyed this story. Sebastian was our moody, solemn hero. Thinking he knows what he wants or needs. Not prepared for what Delaney has in store for him. Delaney knows what she wants. She wants Sebastian, but she is set on her conditions. She is good at helping Sebastian manage his gift, a fire starter. With her help, in addition to Piper and Victoria, he slowly is able find ways to manage his gift. Managing his emotions and not burning everything down.

I also enjoyed how much Delaney enjoyed his castle. How she excitedly discover and appreciated its history while everyone else found it dark and cold. She and Sebastian both loved it and saw the beauty in it.

I really enjoyed this read. The chemistry with our hero and heroine was spot on! 5 stars all the way! Can’t wait for the next book, to learn more about the time traveler and how Simon will be able to catch his lady love!

Yay! Finally, the Duke of Ashcroft's story! I have been waiting so, so patiently for us to finally get the scoop on the mysterious and enigmatic Duke, and I couldn't be happier with the results!

The Duke is Wicked starts off with a bit of a mixture of the last two. Instead of Finn having his normal dreams of someone or something a great pertinence to the League of Lords, Sebastian, the Duke of Ashcroft does about a woman with enchanting eyes a the library. But what does it mean? And, who is she? It isn't until the Duke crosses the brazen American's path that he realized the woman he's been dreaming about is Delaney Temple is one of the “Terrible Two”. She and her twin brother recently arrived from America. The gossipmongers say that Delaney is a brazen hellion that with a penchant for mischief and horseracing and absolutely no interest in marriage. As the Duke is sent on a mission to discreetly interrogate the mysterious foreigner, he finds himself suddenly at her tender mercies and soon she is being thrust into the League's midst. Can they mitigate their sudden and undeniable attraction long enough to solve the mystery of who is blackmailing Delaney before losing their fight and Sebastian succumbs to fully and irrevocably losing the tender hold he has on his power?

As always, I am totally gone for this series. Sebastian and Delaney were fun and their attraction was almost palpable. That's not to say I didn't want to throttle him a bit at times. Men making decisions for others is never a good idea. I love the glimpses we have of our past characters and where they are now and I am soooo on the hook for more about Simon's story. I think that's coming up next. *fingers crossed* The world-building mixed with the further development of the League and their powers continues to be a huge draw for me.

I cannot say enough good things about the League of Lords series and I am super excited for it to continue. If you are a fan of paranormal romances and historical romances... seriously, look no further.

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

I will start by saying I have not read any of the previous books in the series. I think you do not necessarily need to, but it might help keep the many people in the story straight and understand the magical element better. Still after a few chapters things are easily covered and I was able to catch up fairly easily. I love this mix of historical romance with a twist of magic fantasy. My two favorite genres mixed to create this mystery and a fun slightly streamy romance between a fiery hero and a headstrong bookish heroine. I will say sometimes I could barely keep up with some dialogue between characters it felt like it was jumping around at times. I wanted a little more explanation on Delenay's gift. We do get a HEA but the the mystery itself is not solved completely. I honestly felt at the end the mystery was an afterthought. it gets sidelined for the later half and not mentioned until the epilogue where you can see things will continue in the next book. I do not think it was a bad thing, it just felt so dire in the beginning and then was not apart of the story next. I enjoyed the book overall and honestly want to read the first books in the series to see how it all started and look forward to the next book in the series.

This is another enjoyable entry in this unique series. The sparks certainly fly as Delaney and Sebastian move from enemies to lovers in this forbidden romance. I really liked this couple and I love the clever way that this author has combined paranormal elements with historical romance.

i enjoy reading historical romances, I do, but really there are only so many ways to go about them. Us readers, read for the comfort and joy we find in the love stories. So when one comes along that has a little different element it is exciting, and when it is well executed it will get the author a 5-star review.
Delaney and Sebastian are a couple, or not? Enemies, or not? Full of tension and chemistry...yes. The twist is instead of Delaney having the secret it is Sebastian.
Historically secret societies are shrouded in mystery. We believe they still exist to this day. Are they magical? Mystical? Or just tempting because they are forbidden....just like Sebastian himself.
Whatever the reason, the novel is long enough to tell the story completely and just the right length to curl up and read on a winter day. enjoy

Ok I just loved this book! It is the third in a series and in my opinion the best. The attraction, romance, and 🔥🔥between Sebastian and Delany was all there. They were able to work through their obstacles for a HEA. I’m looking forward to Simon’s book,

This is the third book in the League of Lords series about aristocrats (mostly aristocrats) with paranormal abilities in the Victorian era. I haven’t read the previous two, but it was reasonably easy to pick up the general context and rules of the world, and the characters who had obviously featured in previous books were given a light introduction so we had their backstory. I think it stands fairly well alone.

The Duke of the title is Ashcroft, Sebastian as we know him for much of the book, who has certain abilities with fire - and a problem of control. Despite his issues, he knows he needs to marry, and preferably another member of the League, so selects a suitable young lady. Meeting brash American Delaney Temple upends all his plans, however, since he is stung by a bee at their first meeting and she promptly saves his life - with mouth to mouth resuscitation, causing a massive scandal.

There’s a curious subplot here where Delaney is being blackmailed for… I’m still not precisely sure what. Information, I assume, since that is her talent; she has a mental ‘attic’ where she stores inconceivable amounts of information she can then access at her leisure, and she has memorized the League’s codex of information on paranormal abilities - which is why they can’t let her go. The thing that’s a bit odd is that the blackmail plot is never really followed up, though it seems it may be in the subsequent book.

Delaney and Sebastian as a couple are fabulous, striking literal sparks as two strong personalities clash. I definitely bought into the romance between them (and enjoyed the bedroom scenes which are quite steamy) but at times it did seem to come at the expense of actually explaining overly complicated plot devices. Delaney, for example, is asked to help decipher some codes for the League - but we’re never told what the codes are all about or why they need deciphering. They’re a throwaway device to show that she can be useful to them, which was ridiculous because her abilities made her usefulness obvious.

I kind of like this idea of a team of Victorian-era superheroes, but I’m just not sure where the author is going with it, because there doesn’t seem to be any sort of overarching mission or adversary for them. I’ll give it four stars, because I did like the romance part very much and I like the concept, but some of the plot falls a bit short for my tastes.

Sebastian, the Duke of Ashcroft is part of the League of Lords. The people in the group have powers that are heightened or supernatural. Delaney Temple is an American trying to discover not only who all is in the League, but what their individual powers are and how they are connected.
The two buttheads and things heat up in more ways than one!

I would recommend this book because it is a fun, lighthearted storyline.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

A paranormal historical romance is not something one sees every day, but this one is unique and very well written.
In The Duke is Wicked, we have Sebastian, a long time member of the League that is in search of a wife, so he can have an heir. So far, so good. The trick is that he has a gift or a curse and his intention is to marry another member of the League, even if he doesn't love her. Sebastian has a lot of trauma from his childhood that have impacted his adult life, and adding his ability to that, it has made having connections with people, especially women, difficult. But meeting an American will forever change him, even if he fights it.
Said American, Delaney, called the half of the Terrible Two by London’s society, is more than happy to let the ton thinks what they want. What she wants is freedom. But her freedom might come at the cost of the man she has come to have feelings for. Delaney has an unusual gift that is very well explored and explained in the plot, and it is closely connected to her feelings for the Duke. Their relationship progress so effortlessly that I could not help but to love them as well. And the steam and smut in this book is in step by step with the romance. It was a great historical romance.
One thing I will say is that this is the third book in the series and I believe it’s better to read the others before this one.

Delaney is determined to learn what she can about the League. When she rescues the Duke of Ashcroft, that puts her in the perfect position to find what she is looking for.

Sebastian isn't about to let an outsider know what the League is about. But they know the Delaney has some knowledge, so they decide to keep her close.

What neither counted on was their mutual attraction for one another. Can Sebastian keep the secrets of the League or will Delaney give them a reason to let her into the fold?

I really enjoyed Delaney and Sebastian's story. We've seen Sebastian throughout the series and I was excited to see how he was going to get his HEA. Sumner didn't disappoint! This was a great addition to the League of Lords series and I can't wait for the next one to come out!

The Duke is Wicked (League of Lords Book 3) is a delightful mixture of Victorian and the paranormal. This is one I enjoyed very much.

Filled with fun characters and fascinating mystical powers abound. Sebastian, the Duke of Ashcroft, created the League of Lords to learn control over their powers. Blamed by his father while still a child for the death of his mother and unborn child which he had nothing to do with. As a young man he took a commission with the military. Being the third son it didn’t matter. He would never inherit. He was a kind man of many talents, among which, he played the violin. His gift/ curse was he was a fire starter. Though he’s sought after because of his station in life by young women seeking a husband he fears he is too dangerous to marry. Thinking it best to align himself with a mild mannered woman like his friends he thought that would give him more control over his gift as he was fearful of losing control. Who would want such a man?

Delaney Temple and her twin, Case (dubbed the “Terrible Two”) are running from their past in America. It’s actually Delaney with a supernatural recall and photographic memory. Case, her twin is her protector. Delaney’s being sharp memory and total recall come into play when she’s tasked with finding out everything she can about the League. She’s fiercely intelligent, quick witted, and a typical American woman of the time who find the aristocracy stuffy and boring. Sebastian can’t help but be drawn to this beautiful, intriguing and fiery woman. Together they could said the whole of London on fire with their gifts and their passions. She sets his soul afire and he’s powerless to deny the connection they share try as he might. She has her own reasons to deny it.

This was a wonderful well written story that shows the pain these incredible members of this group have experienced because of their powers and because they’re different. I love the camaraderie that they find within each other. I enjoy the story immensely, it’s definitely a page turner filled with so many surprises.

Thank you so much Ms. Sumner For this wonderful love story and all of its elements.

My two favourite genres are historical romance and paranormal. I love when both are combined. Both main characters have magical gifts. Sebastian can start fires and Delaney has access to thousands of books in her mind. There is plenty of heat between the two but I didn't feel a huge connection between the two. The story dragged and there was no resolution as to who was blackmailing Delaney. This had potential but sadly it isn't something that kept me entertained.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the third book in a series, The League of Lords. It is a regency type romance with paranormal aspects. Each of the Lords and Ladies have assorted "gifts" and have banded together to support and protect each other. The book stands well on its own storyline, but you will get much more from the story if you read the other books as well. Our H- Sebastian is the fifth Duke of Ashcroft and a Firestarter. He was abused by his father as a child because of the fires he started. His gift appears to be tied to his emotional state. Our h, Delaney Temple is an independent American heiress with a "memory and recall" gift. She has a photographic memory and can bring up anything in her "attic Library" in her brain! Sebastian encounters Delaney as a threat to the society as she has gathered occult information from their library to give to a blackmailer! Starting as enemies and growing to need and care for each other takes a circuitous but entertaining path. You revisit old friends from the other books and begin to see the books to come. The world building is well done and the characters are so engaging you can't put the book down. I was confused at first about the "Blackmailer", but as the story progresses you gain insight as to their future identity.
I have read the other books and I enjoyed them, as I did this one. I would highly recommend this book to others. I received an ARC from Hidden Gems in exchange for an honest review.

Really cute! As soon as I saw that this was a paranormal regency romance, I knew I had to read. And it did not disappoint. The beginning was a little confusing since this was my first read of the series, and there are two previous books I missed. So getting up the speed with the context of the League and the magical powers took some time. The author has a very unique writing style that was jarring at first but got acclimated to by the 30% mark. Sebastian and Delaney had great chemistry together and their HEA was enjoyable to read. The focus on the book definitely leans more towards their relationship rather than a concrete narrative, which I prefer in my romance reads. Between Delaney's ability to memorize a library of books as a superpower (jealous) and Sebastian's traumatic past dealing with this fire elemental powers, and watching them try to help and heal one another while fighting their obvious attraction, I just couldn't put this one down. I will definitely be continuing on in the series.

Thank you to netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so interesting! I did not realize what I was getting into when I started it, but I loved reading this supernatural Victorian romance. It is the third in the series, and I immediately went to download the first two once I finished it. The main characters have essentially magical powers, though each has a specific gift. The hero, Sebastian, starts fire with his mind (sometimes without meaning to), and the heroine can access anything she has ever read. We meet a whole cast of characters with various powers, and I love the interactions among them.

The hero and heroine are both struggling with overcoming past trauma and their fears about the future. Their romance develops with lots of angst and steamy sex scenes.

There is a bit of a mystery plot behind the scenes, but it seems like most of it will play out in the next novel instead.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review.

Will his fears destroy their burgeoning romance ...

This is the second book in this series I have read, I missed the previous one because I lacked time at the period of its release. Still it is lined on some of my shelves waiting for a more free schedule.
I have read other works by the author, but this series once again leaves me with mixed feelings.
I am a marvel and dc fan girl, they enlightened my teens intermixed with Barbara Cartland books and Elquest, I know quite a mix. So there is nothing more I love then a dash of paranormal in my historical romances.
And here it is X-men meet Jane Eyre.
Yet like my previous read, I struggled at time to catch the thoughts or perspectives the author wanted to infuse in her characters. I got regularly lost in her line of thinking.
Still once the first quarter of the story has settled, I began to really enjoy it. Delaney and Sebastian’s journey to their HEA is a complex rollercoaster playing hot and cold as they must acknowledge their attraction but also their inner fears and face the reality of their differences.
Sébastien lives with the terror of losing control, of letting his power take over himself. Why he tried to dose his cursed gift with opium, or he went to war where he would do less damage than in a civilized crowd and why he also believes only a woman who does not stir him up nor arouse him is the right answer to continue his line.
After having witnessed his friends finding women who sooth their mind and quiet their gift, he truly thinks a woman he is not drawn to is the right one for him when an other sparks his interest and provokes him which scares him to no end, afraid he might loose his tight control over his gift.
Delaney is from one side on the run, on the other trying to find a way out. She fled her homeland, a place she never felt she belonged to a new one which ostentatiously rejects her because she was not born among it. Yet she has no other choice than to stay there as it is her only exit ticket to her predicament.
But now she has been caught, she must decide which new path does she want to follow, she is torn between her attraction to Sebastian, his rank and her insecurities.
One sure is certain they know how to blow hot and cold, igniting a room by their mere presence and spending time to scorch the atmosphere around them and more.

So everything considered, even the disconcerting beginning, it is a story I liked and now I want to know about Simon and his dream lady.
4 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen detailed lovemaking scenes.

I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

How does a duke, who happens to be a Firestarter, win the love of an independent American heiress, who has a supernatural intellect and memory, and just might have tried to steal the Leagues Chronology? He plays beautiful violin music for her, and gives her a puppy. That may not be enough, but it’s a good start.

The third story in the League of Lords centers around Sebastian Tremont, Duke of Ashcroft and Delaney Temple. Sebastian is a Firestarter. His father rejected him and his gift and blamed him for things he had nothing to do with. Even after a stint in the military, he has still not learned to control his gift, but is trying and getting better. Delaney and her twin brother Case came to London from South Carolina after a troubling incident on their estate. They are known as The Terrible two. She is interested in almost everything and learns and memorizes at warp speed. You will love her attic. This is an intriguing story. The romance is complicated, but heartwarming. Sebastian and Delaney are afraid of the relationship, if for different reasons. Delaney and Case have secrets that drove them from America to England. Simon has a visitor who may or may not be a ghost. There is drama, mystery, twists and surprises (one very special one). A good read. I enjoyed and recommend it and the other books in the series.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

To put it simply, this book gave me tingles in all the right places. I adored this book and could not put it down, leading to a late night for me as I made sure I finished the book before heading to sleep. It's not often that I see a paranormal historical romance, and when I've read this subgenre before, it's a big hit or miss. Some authors pull it off splendidly, while others crash and burn. Tracy Sumner was the former, utterly and completely. She created a world that was easy to follow, even if you haven't read the previous books in the series, and her characters are relatable and sexy as hell. I'm amazed that I have not read a book by her sooner, but believe me, that is a mistake corrected. I am absolutely adding her to my list of favorite authors, starting now, by placing this book on my Favorite Books of 2021 list.

The League of Lords was created specifically for people like Sebastian Tremont, who, while a duke, finds himself alone and unwanted at an early age due to a special gift he was born with. Or curse, depending on who you ask. He is able to create fire at will, but his control on it is often dependent on his emotions, so he favors solitude and quiet in his life. Which makes the entrance of Delaney Temple an absolutely terrifying moment for him. Delaney is hunting for information about Sebastian and his friends, all the while hiding a secret of her very own. Forced to flee her home in America with her twin brother, she is reviled by London society, which she cares not one whit for. The last goal on her mind is to become a duchess, but her heart has other ideas. As Delaney and Sebastian spend more time together, they find their attraction impossible to ignore. But Sebastian's power is volatile whenever Delaney is around, and it's not just his heart, but also her safety, at risk.

Sebastian is one hero who is in desperate need of a hug, and I wanted to give him one for almost the entire book. Not having any affection once his mother died and his father blamed him for her death, he wasn't used to people caring about him. His friends in the League of Lords had wormed their way into his affections, but anyone outside of them was kept firmly away from him. He even chose his future wife based not on having feelings for her but rather because he felt nothing for her at all. Delaney was exactly what he needed, even though he didn't know he needed her. Most of the book was spent with the two of them pretending like they didn't completely love each other, and the emotions were flying off the pages. Delaney appeared at first to be made of stone like Sebastian, without a care for what others thought of her. However, that didn't last long as he gradually uncovered her secrets and revealed a vulnerability in her that matched his own. It was such a heartfelt romance and one I won't soon forget. I also really enjoyed the secondary characters, namely Delaney's brother and Sebastian's almost-intended. They were both great comedic relief characters that brought a lightheartedness to the situation. Loved having them in the story.

I can't wait to read more by this author! Truly a delight.

**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**