I was looking forward to reading Lord Henry Cabot's story and how he'd fall in love. He's been enjoying Miss Penny Darlington's company for two seasons now and their extensive conversations about horses. Even though the Duke's Pact has demanded all 6 of their sons marry or face financial ruin, Henry has resisted and when a third of his friends marries, Henry reacts badly and insults Penny. Penny never saw the blow/insult coming and she's vowed to ignore Henry from now on, that is, until her father invites him as his guest for the annual races. Will Henry be able to convince Penny he's sorry for his ill-timed comment or will she dismiss him still?

My first little criticism was about the title of the book as I didn't know who the baron was. Henry is the son of a duke and I didn't see anywhere in the book where he was called a baron. Besides that, I was looking forward to reading the next story in the Duke's Pact series. Ms. Archer has woven delightful stories about each son that have already married. Henry was a bit of an ass to Penny at the Tudor Ball, taking out his frustration on her, but he has no idea his off-hand comment would cause her such heartache. He must spend the rest of the book trying to win her good opinion back. Along the way, he realizes the truth of his feelings. I liked Penny, but I didn't like that she'd fall apart over one comment especially since she'd know Henry for two seasons already. Her character is redeemed though as she refuses to forgive Henry right away and that sends Henry a clear message that he'd hurt her feelings more than he'd ever realized. While there were several twists and turns including an evil moneylender, poisoned horses and a dosed jockey, Penny and Henry finally do have their HEA.

I'm looking foward to reading the last two stories of the duke's sons--Grayson and Dalton. What does Ms. Archer plan for these two? Will Grayson and Kitty be the next story?

Miss Penny Darlington, daughter of the famed horseman Lord Mendbridge, has spent the past two seasons happily flirting with Henry Roland, Lord Cabot. On the night of the Tudor ball, all of her ideas are crushed. Henry showed her, in no uncertain terms, how inconsequential she really was. She would prefer to nurse her bruised feelings in private, but her father has invited Lord Cabot to stay with them at Newmarket for the races. Henry well knows he allowed his temper to get the better of him. Miss Darlington left the Tudor Ball in near tears, he was shunned by all who overheard him, and even the hostess glowered at him. He’d not meant what he said and has every expectation that Miss Darlington will laugh it off when she discovers him staying at her house in Newmarket. In any case, he has a far more urgent problem to solve—he’s entered his filly in the thousand guinea stakes and does not actually have the stake.
This is the fourth book in the series & another page turner. Six elderly Dukes have made a pact, they want their sons to marry, so have cut their allowances until they do. There was always an attraction between Henry & Penny but I never expected him to be so cruel. I loved the road to their HEA parts of which were hilarious, stones & congealed broth! I loved the horse mad Penny who rescued Henry even though she was furious with him. I loved Henry who was a bit hapless but endearing as he tried to apologise but kept putting his foot in it. The pair weren’t helped by Henry’s friends, I look forward to those two especially Dalton falling hard. A charming read , I also loved doom & Kitty
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The Baron's Dangerous Contract
Book 4 in the Dukes' Pact Series
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book of the series that I read. It can be read as a stand alone. Also this is the first book by this author that I read too. What caught my attention in requesting this ARC was the synopsis. I really was looking forwards to reading how Henry was going to grovel, redeem himself to Penny after how he treated her after some time of flirting with each other.
Sadly, the romance between Henry and Penny felt a little short. Both leads spend very few time with each other. Henry attempts several times to apologize for being rude, but he does a bad job at it and Penny doesn't easily forgive him. Poor Henry he tried and I liked that as soon as he hurt her feelings he knew he had done wrong. Though thinking that Penny would easily forgive him or pretend that nothing had happened was a little insulting to her. I had fun reading how her house staff tried to make his life miserable while he stayed at her house.
I did enjoy the world of horse racing that we are introduced to and I liked how knowledgeable Penny was about horses.

Having read the previous books in this entertaining series, I was very happy to receive a copy of this romance. Lord Cabot shot himself in the foot when he insulted Penny Darlington, little realising just how deeply he had wounded her feelings. However, certain that she would just shrug his misplaced words off, he goes about far more urgent matters, such as finding the money for the stake to enter his filly for a race at Newmarket. Events conspire against Lord Cabot on more than one front: Penny has not forgotten nor forgiven the insult; the servants in the Menbridge household take up cudgels on behalf of their mistress; Cabot's own friends attempt to thwart any possibility of there being a reconciliation between him and Penny in an effort to put an end to the Dukes' pact; and then, of course, there is the unscrupulous moneylender who will do whatever it takes to have his way. The plot of this story moves at a good pace as both Cabot and Penny prepare for the big race. When at the last moment, plans go awry, Penny finds herself having to make a snap decision, revealing the depths of the feelings she has for Cabot. This novel is well written and entertaining, keeping one guessing through to the end whether Cabot will ever win the fair lady. One can only hope that his mischievous friends will eventually get their comeuppance. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dragonblade Publishing and Ms. Archer for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. An honest review was requested but not required.

I must admit I was looking forward to Penny’s “story” as I too was (am?) a horse-mad girl. It was clear from the previous book that Penny and Henry had a strong connection to each other and I was expecting this book to be terrific.

I really wasn’t expecting that Henry would be thoughtlessly cruel at the ball because he was in a bad mood. But moreso, I wasn’t expecting that an inconsiderate remark would cause intrepid Penny to completely shut down. One dunderheaded moment from him and she was totally unraveled? I can’t even imagine how such a naïve and sheltered person would – or could! – function in a relationship.

Luckily, after quite a bit of hijinks and shenanigans involving practically every character in the book, things were smoothed out and both Henry and Penny had their come-to-Jesus moment of realization. Henry realized that women don’t have the luxury of sitting around and taking their time on the “marriage mart” and Penny realized she needed to be thicker-skinned.

It's for the best that things worked out for Henry and Penny, as really, it would be impossible to find two more well-suited individuals. This was an enjoyable return to the Duke’s Pact series, and Ms. Archer definitely brought her usual wit and humor. It also featured an almost total lack of physical exchanges (I think there was one kiss/embrace, total) if that’s something you look for in a story. Honestly, the story is engaging enough that I hardly noticed the lack of steam.

I am certainly looking forward to Grayson’s installment – curious as to who will “tame” the “lover of all women, committed to none” free spirit – but even more I’m looking forward to dour (and frankly, slightly villainous) Dalton’s story. I am eager to see how Ms. Archer redeems him.

This was an entertaining book that had a nice flow to it. It was a great addition to The Duke's Pact series. I was excited to read Penny and Henry Cabot's story. Of course, their love would revolve around horses. Because of that, I learned a few interesting things. There was a lot going on and the story has a few different perspectives so it was diverting. I do wish they would not have been on the outs so much.


It is a sweet story, no sex for those that prefer that.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for an honest review.

Henry is one of the last few heirs of the Dukes who have not married and he plans to keep it that way. He enjoys spending time with Penny who is even more knowledgeable than he is about horses. After insulting her and hurting her feelings, he finds himself a guest in their home. Henry gets in over his head with a moneylender and Penny must come to his rescue. I enjoy reading this series. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After three of the heirs of the Dukes' Pact have married, Henry Roland, Viscount Cabot, is the next one to face his own love story. For the past two years, even before his father started to meddle in his business, Henry has been spending time with Miss Penny Darlington, discussing horses and generally enjoying their time together, but after he ruthlessly insulted her at a recent ball, both she and the rest of the ton have shunned him. With his allowance cut in half, Henry can't afford to pay the entry free for his filly at Newmarket, so goes to a disreputable moneylender, which sparks a series of events that could be dangerous to both himself, and to Penny's family, whom he is staying with. Will Penny be able to forgive Henry for his actions at the ball, or will her hurt and pain lead to them both being unable to find their happy ending?

As soon as this book became available to request on NetGalley, I immediately jumped at the chance, and started reading as soon as I was approved. I've enjoyed each of the previous books in the series, and have been waiting for Penny and Henry's story ever since we saw their chemistry and connection. We start this book off with the engagement of Lily and Lord Ashworth, which sparks Henry into a bad mood and he insults Penny's knowledge of horses, and acts like he's just been humouring her for the last two seasons. A lot of people heard his insult, and it's left Penny feeling despondent, and a little heartbroken. She knows that it's nearly time to head off to Newmarket for the races, and has a horse in the races too, so can't wait to escape London and the gossip. However, Penny's father, the renowned horseman Lord Mendbridge, announces that he's invited Cabot to stay with them, and she doesn't know how to treat the meetings. I really felt for Penny and her heartbreak here, and loved how her friends, family, and even the servants, tried to protect her from further hurt. Yeah, okay, the servants took it a little far with all of the mischief they were up to with Henry's belongings, and his bedroom, but it showed they cared for the family, and would do anything for their mistress. My favourite had to be Doom, though, who was just a little ball of terror, who didn't appreciate people pandering to him, and wanted to do anything for Miss Darlington.

The plot line surrounding the moneylender, and the way he tried to cause Henry to lose, and be in more debt, was fantastic to read. Yes, I did see how it would be resolved coming a mile off, but I still really enjoyed reading it all, and seeing how the money lender got his comeuppance in the end. The whole matter helped to push Penny and Henry together again, and I felt that the way Henry apologised, and made up for his past actions was perfect for the couple, and think that the way Kitty was introduced, and her interactions with Lord Grayson may be setting up for Grayson's own book. Only two more left in the series, and I'm looking forward to them!

Penny knows pretty much all there is to know about horses. Reading between the lines how ever she is horrible at. She despises Lord Cabot more and more as she hears tidbits that she misread about him. He's not completely innocent though, so winning her hand is an uphill challenge for so many reasons.

It is first time author for me and i must admit i loved her writing . A feud between our main couple makes them stop talking . Thanks to her father invite to stay at their mancion he can apologize for his harsh words . A very nossy best friend who tries to bring them together . A accident who change everything . A harry end .
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.