Devastated by the death of her dear friend Alice, Lady Olivia “Livie” Haliford vows to find and punish the man responsible for ruining her and possibly murdering her. To achieve this goal and to protect other women from falling victim to the entitled scoundrels of the ton, Livie, and her two dearest friends, Lady Kaitlyn Montrose and Miss Henrietta Merriweather decide to start a newspaper that will target these men and expose them for the predators they are – but to start a publishing business will require more money than they have, but Livie has the perfect investor in mind – Sebastian Colver, the Bastard of Baker Street or as most of London call him, the King of the Rookeries.

Sebastian is intrigued by the lovely young woman with a cane who stormed his office and uses his biggest secret to try and coerce him into investing in her scandal sheet. He should send her on her way because he has more pressing matters to sort out – like finding out who is trying to take over the Rookeries, but her connections, namely her Godmother the Duchess of Calder, makes her the perfect person to convince the “Dragon Duchess” to sponsor his half-sister Charlotte. He makes a deal if she can convince her Godmother to introduce Charlotte to society, he will be her silent partner.

They strike a bargain, but as they spend time together, two things become clear; one they are attracted to each other, and two whoever is trying to take over the Rookeries has also been hired to kill Olivia. Despite his vow to never love anyone, Sebastian can’t seem to walk away from Livie and will stop at nothing to save her. Can these two let go of past hurts and open their hearts so they can find a way to have HEA or will they let their fears ruin their chance for a love of a lifetime?

This was a very well-written, fast-paced story with a great “whodunit” mystery incorporated into the romance of this unlikely couple. The book has a lot going on, murder, betrayal, revenge, steamy love scenes, some angst, great secondary characters, and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. I did enjoy this book, but there were some things that kept this from being a five-star read for me, such as formal address/title errors and modern-day idioms and verbiage, and a couple of historical inaccuracies that I simply had a hard time overlooking, that being said, I must stress, these things are personal pet peeves of mine and may not bother other readers. This is the first book in the series that I would happily recommend and will be looking forward to the future installments!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. *

I can’t give this book enough stars! The plot is compelling and not only the love story, but the mystery story as well. The descriptions are very good, not too lenghty and boring, but interesting and very poetic. The characters are very well defined and the tropes “man with a dark past” and “scarred heroine” are not over the top as sometimes is the case in these novels. Instead, Livie and Seb are very human and totally lovable. I totally recommend this book!

I had a hard time putting this book down. It reads kind of like a gothic romance and I absolutely love that about the story. Not your usual ton events (although there are some) makes this story intriguing, captivating, finger-biting and just plain fun to read. Tormented guys with scars are a total turn-on and add in a lady with a physical issue and you have magic on a page. This fast-paced story will pull you into the story and keep you on the edge of your seat right until the end. Sebastian and Olivia are fabulous characters that just belong together. These are tough talking characters that feed off of each other. Another fabulous story by Maddison.

What a nice start to a new series. Lady Olivia needs to know how her friend truly died. In order to do so, she enlists Sebastian’s help.

A well-written, fast paced romance. A nice read.

I received an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

This was an engrossing, non-stop exciting, totally scrumptious read. The lead characters were scrumptious, the villain was vile, and the supporting cast was delicious. From the first words on the first page, you’ll fall in love with Sebastian, the bastard son of a vile duke, who now rules as The Bastard of Baker Street – or King of the Rookeries if you prefer. You’ll also love the feisty, determined, brave, and lovely Lady Olivia Haliford, the spinster daughter of a duke, who doesn’t let her pronounced limp hold her back from anything she is determined to do.

Lady Olivia (Livie) and her friends Henrietta (Etta) Merriweather and Lady Kaitlyn (Kat) Montrose are in deep mourning for their friend Alice. They had all been the best of friends – forever – and now Alice was buried. Everybody said it was by her own hand because she had been ruined, but Livie was sure she had been murdered. The three friends were determined to unmask the man who ruined Alice and took her life. Each of them has a skill that will help them bring the culprit down – and they’ll go further than that – their crusade will bring all of the men who prey on women down. It shouldn’t be the women who are the sole ones to pay for those indiscretions, but that is the way it is now. Their plan is to start a monthly publication that will expose those bachelors who are taking advantage of the ladies of society. Theirs won’t be a gossip publication – they will only publish names and information where they have actual proof. Emma is gifted with words and will write the articles, Kat has a huge network of informants who can find out all of the information anyone would want to know, and Livie has the social skills and instincts to elicit information from the highest echelons of society. So, all they need to set their publication in motion is the funds to finance it. Livie knows just the right person to approach. Will he invest in their project? She’ll convince him – no matter what.

Sebastian Colver rules his empire with an iron fist and trusts absolutely nobody. He can’t afford to have emotions because emotions will get someone killed in his line of work. He has worked many years to make his fortune and now, he is mostly legitimate and one of the richest people in England. He’s been ignoring letters from some woman who has been demanding an appointment with him. She is a very determined lady; he’ll give her that. Then, this striking woman walks into his office and confronts him. How did she manage to get past all of his men? She definitely has courage to show up, uninvited, at his office. She intrigues him, so how can he refuse to at least listen to what she has to say.

Neither Sebastian nor Livie knows the repercussions of the bargain they strike. There are enemies just beneath the surface – and they are everywhere. Is there one enemy – or more? Can Sebastian keep himself safe? Can he keep Livie safe? Is there anyone he can trust?

I loved watching Livie and Sebastian work together and separately. I loved Livie’s courage and determination and I loved Sebastian’s honor – and strangely enough – his honesty. I also adored Livie’s family. It was such a very refreshing change to have a loving and supportive family in a historical romance. I liked Livie’s godmother very much, but the family member I loved the most was Livie’s father. When he told her, “To love another is a gift. And when you find love, you must hold onto it dearly for as long as you can, no matter the consequences. For it can be taken away from you in an instant.” Another thing he said to Livie, “You must be brave with your heart, for true courage is taking a leap even in the face of your greatest fears.”

I highly recommend this book and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series.

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

I received "The Bachelor Bargain" from the fantabulous Maddison Michaels and Netgalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This story deserves a 7 out of 5 stars. The storyline is unique; the characters and their interactions are superb. I haven't been so emotionally overwhelmed by a story in a long time. My heart broke and my eyes welled up with tears with what Lady Olivia Haliford, aka Livie and the most dangerous man in London, Sebastián Colver, Seb, said and experienced.
Livie, along with her two friends, wish to start printing a paper, The Bachelor Bounty Gazette, to expose all those men who pretend to be one thing, but in reality, are actually someone quite dastardly, whether they are fortune hunters or perhaps polygamists, or inherently bad. However,  they need the initial capital to get things up and running. Livie takes it upon herself to ask Seb for help,  as he is known to make and assist or be a silent partner in profitable investments. What then ensues is a story of the underworld, with danger and intrigue, some fabulous personalities we meet, and especially the emotional romantic development of Livie and Seb. Maddison Michaels has outdone herself in this first book in her new series, Scandals and Spies. A not to be missed book!

I really enjoyed this read! The author had a perfect blend of suspense and romance, a feat which many authors cannot accomplish but Maddison Michaels certainly did. Olivia and Sebastian have great chemistry and both are very likable characters. Normally in a suspense story, I can figure out pretty quickly who the villain is, but not in this read. The author did a great job keeping the villain’s identity hidden and yet their identity was totally plausible when revealed. If you’re looking for an interesting romantic suspense novel, then be sure to check this once out! I hope there will be sequels as I definitely want to see more from Ms. Michaels.

This is Maddison Michael's second series, and if you haven't read the first, I recommend running out and getting that ASAP. She's definitely on my authors to watch list, and this book did not disappoint.

The Bachelor Bargain is Michael's "Devil in Winter" (for all the Kleypas fans). From the minute Sebastian Colver meets Lady Olivia, he is drawn to her and sort of claims her.

An unlikely pairing, Lady Olivia (Livie) is the daughter of a duke, and Sebastian is a bastard of a duke and feared ruler of London's underground. Because of his wealth and business dealings, he can hang on the fringes of society. They meet after Livie approaches Sebastian with a business proposition to expose the scoundrels of the ton. Livie and her friends are also on a mission to figure out who ruined and killed their friend Alice. When a killer targets Livie, he realizes she needs more help than just his money.

I loved how realistic their relationship was - the author does not sweep the class differences under the rug. It's not an easy happily ever after; they have to fight to be together. Livie is described as having a lame leg, not viewed highly among her peers, and thus unaware of her beauty and worth. I loved that Sebastian was the one to see her fully. It's also nice to see a family that cares - Livie's family wants her to be happy.

The mystery was well done and didn't drag the story down. It adds the right element to push these two together. There are also Sebastian's friends, too, and I am eager to read their stories. This is the first book in a trilogy. Book 2 and 3 are presumably about Livie's two friends and Sebastian's two partners.

The Bachelor Bargain is the first book in the historical romance series Secrets, Scandals, and Spies by Maddison Michaels. I haven't read any of her previous books, and I am always excited to be introduced to a new author. This was a fun start to her new series, and I hope the following books will be just as engaging.

Lady Olivia (Livie) Haliford, the daughter of a duke, is devastated by the death of her dear friend Alice. Alice was ruined by a scoundrel, yet he went on his merry way, never being held to task for HIS despicable behavior. Frankly, Livie is sick and tired of it, so she and her two closest friends decide to do something about it: they plan to start an anonymous gazette exposing the badly behaving bachelors of the ton. However, since it is to be anonymous, the women must come up with a source of funds. Livie decides to approach Sebastian Colver, who's known as the Bastard of Baker Street, the feared king of the London underworld, for the funds. Seb is shocked that this young woman of the ton doesn't seem the least bit afraid of his frightening reputation and scarred face, and he's intrigued. He agrees to be her silent partner and supply her with the money she needs, if she will use her connection with her aunt, the Dragon Duchess, to sponsor his sister into Society. When you acquaint yourself with the king of the underworld, however, things become dangerous...

This was an exciting start to a new series. Opposites do attract, after all! And no two people seem more different than the daughter of a duke and a deeply feared man who runs the underworld of London. I just adored Seb. He led a horrible early life but managed to go from being a gang member to one of the richest men in London. Many of the aristocracy were indebted to him or wanted to do business with him. He still suffered heartbreak over the brutal murder of his mother, and he wanted to make sure his sister had a content and safe life. Livie, on the other hand, always had a comfortable life, except for the bad limp she had as a result of a carriage accident when she was a child which killed her mother. Livie was bold and fearless and wanted to fight for other women. She was also, I hate to mention, quite annoying to me. I'm not sure why; perhaps because she was ridiculously overly bold. But still, she had great chemistry with Seb, and I enjoyed their sparring. Supporting characters were very good, especially Livie's Aunt Demelza and Seb's sister Charlotte, who wanted to be a physician. A couple of minor things seemed a bit off to me, like Livie's use of the phrase "speak her truth" (I hate that phrase!); it seemed too modern for the period. Also, the dialogue between gang members made me think of New York gangsters, not London criminals. Besides these little pet peeves, the story was exciting and I'm greatly looking forward to the next book in this series.

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.

4 1/2 stars. Another great read from Maddison Michaels. I loved the premise of this one. Our heroine is out to expose all the dirty little secrets of men who prey on the innocent! Then she runs into Sebastian Colver, the Bastard of Baker street and sparks fly! I loved the pairing of this couple! Nothing is sexier than a hero who runs a gambling den and is considered king of the underworld! Hot, sexy, and romantic!

I received an ARC for my honest review! Thanks NetGalley and the publisher!

Lady Olivia Haliford has just attended the funeral of one of her dearest friends. Her friend is dead because a disreputable man took advantage of her.

This type of man always get away with whatever they want to do. It's time somebody stopped them, and she has an idea how.

Livie knows she will never marry because of her disability, but she can give her life purpose. With a little help from an unlikely source she will dish out justice.

Sebastian Colver has fought his way up through the worst streets of London. He is now known to be one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in town. He has one very strict rule in his streets, and that is nobody must harm a woman in any way.

A business proposition from a very unusual Lady stirs interest from more than just the money-making part of his brain.

This is a fabulous book that I couldn't put down. Danger and intrigue on nearly every page. Lots of excitement and wonderful characters. Strong and opinionated women and ruthless but caring men. It is set in Victoria's England and featuring some of the new inventions of the time, like trains and telephones.

This is the start of a series and I'm hooked. I will definitely be reading the rest, and I think I might have guessed the next heroine.

Fantastic story, I loved it.

all in all its a good story. moves swiftly. lots of action and intrigue of who done it. My only negative was the heroine Olivia. She was strong and confident in many ways but was always so negative about her leg and feeling sorry for herself. She was also wishy washy with her feelings. She wanted Sebastian but would push him away then draw him in then get cold feet. It was very yo-yo.

This story started off strong and just kept on going right through to the end! We open with a funeral, following the suspicious death of the heroine's friend, which sets off a plan to get justice for her. I loved the group of women who led the charge, and I really felt an immediate fondness for all three of them. Maddison Michaels did an excellent job of endearing me to the characters early on, and I was very quickly invested in their goal of seeing womanizing men be brought to justice for their crimes. While the plot was fairly predictable (I figured out the villain almost as soon as they are introduced in the story), the way to the resolution was not, and I enjoyed the twists and turns that kept coming. This is a great book if you're feeling in the mood for a romance with mystery, murder, and a hero who blends right in with both.

Her friend has been murdered, and Lady Olivia Haliford will not let her friend's death go unanswered. With the public thinking she committed suicide and Olivia believing her friend had a plan for a better life in America, there is only one thing left to do - find the man who killed her and bring him to justice. Partnering with her two friends, they hatch a plan to create a monthly gazette that will expose all the dirty secrets of the men in the ton, to prevent any other women from falling prey to their lascivious ways. However, in order to bring the gazette to life, they need money, and for money, they need a sponsor who is willing to bring the men of the ton to their knees. Who better than the Bastard of Baker Street, the King of the Rookeries, Sebastian Colver. Sebastian has hated the aristocracy, having grown up the bastard son of a duke who used his mother and threw her away when he was finished. This gazette sounds perfect, but Olivia wants a silent partner, and Sebastian has never been silent about any of his investments. Intrigued by the lady who doesn't back down from his scarred face, he agrees to work with her. And as things get heated between them, it's no longer just a business partnership. Now their feelings are involved, making things infinitely more complicated...and dangerous.

I found Olivia's character to be so interesting, from her strength in overcoming her physical restrictions (she walks with a cane due to a childhood accident that took her mother's life) and her determination to not let anyone else take advantage of her. She was a very inspiring woman, and I loved how she handled everyone around her. Her interactions with her godmother, the Dragon Duchess, had me laughing out loud, and she was so kind to Sebastian's sister. She was brave, which made her decisions towards the end of the book so confusing. Honestly, this book was a 5 star read until we had the odd twist at the end. And that's all I'll say without spoiling what happens. Everything works out - this is a romance, after all - but it was heart-wrenching to see how Olivia and Sebastian had to fight for their happily ever after. I really liked Sebastian, with his gruff demeanor, his ruthlessness towards the evil found in society, and while he was probably meant to seem scary, I was loving how protective he was towards Olivia. He had a violent and dangerous past, and he was willing to do whatever it took to keep her safe, but at the same time, he listened to Olivia's concerns and made sure she got what she needed. I liked that balance of a rough exterior with a considerate interior. He was a very complex hero, almost more complex than Olivia, though she had many layers as well.

This is the first book in the series, and I am excited that I'm starting with this book. The next book is sure to be engaging and exciting. I can't wait!

WOW this one is packed with so much action as well as a sensual romance, fabulous characters and I loved it from page one, I have been looking forward to another Maddison Michaels story for a while now and this one did not disappoint, wonderfully written it brings to life The Bastard of Baker Street Sebastian Colver and the beautiful strong Lady Olivia Haliford in a must read story that will have you on the edge of your seat at times, can two people from totally different backgrounds find love and happiness?

Lady Olivia (Livie) a Duke’s daughter is fed up with the way the bachelors of the world are getting away with literally murder at times and she and her friends Kat and Etta are determined to make it change by producing, anonymously, a gazette and dish out all the dirt on some of these bachelors to warn the woman of England, but first they need financial backing and Livie knows just the person to ask, Sebastian Colver the bastard of Baker Street.

Sebastian is feared throughout London as a man to stay away from leader of the baker street gang he has made a name for himself as well as a fortune and mixes with the ton these days, he is stunned when the beautiful lady Olivia makes her entrance into his office to request help with her gazette, she is not afraid of him at all where most people are and he agrees to help as a silent partner if she too will help him with sponsoring his sister into society, he has no clue that his life will change so much when his heart is in danger of falling for Livie.

This story is just so good I loved the pull that Livie and Sebastian had from their first meeting, you could almost feel the heat between them, they both feel strongly about the way woman are treated and even though Sebastian is a feared man I loved him so much he has a heart of gold where needed but believe me he can be very fierce as well and Livie my word what a strong beautiful caring woman she is and not afraid to stand up for what she feels. There is lots of danger in this one as the bad guys are after Sebastian and Livie and it had me holding my breath at times.

To see them find their much deserved HEA was sigh worthy after all they have been through, this is one that I would highly recommend to any lover of historical romance with a big side of suspense thrown in and I look forward to the next one in this series, there are so many fabulous characters in this one I look forward to getting to know them.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review

I'm not usually a fan of historical romance, especially with the class warfare. Sorry, struggle with the concept with titles and entitlements. However, this one grabbed my attention so decided to give it a try. Glad I did! When Sebastian is approached by Livie (Olivia), the daughter of a duke, she wants his help to publish and expose the corruption by men towards women, in revenge to a friend of hers being lead astray and killed. A lot of gang politics too, but overall a fun and exciting read. Love her Dragon Lady godmother, what a fun character. Hope Charlotte and perhaps Justin will be in a future romance. Highly recommend this book and author.

The Bachelor Bargain, a historical romantic suspense novel, is a fun read. It's the first of a new series, and I'm looking forward to the sequels.

The story begins with the heroine Livie and her two best friends at the funeral of a fourth friend. Angry that their friend lost her life as a result of being seduced and abandoned by a selfish lord, the three women devise a plan: They will print a new gossip rag that will expose Society men who mistreat or abuse women.

In need of startup funds, Livie contacts Sebastian to see if he's willing to invest in the venture. As a guy who is for all intents and purposes a mob boss who strikes fear in everyone, Seb is nonplussed when Livie shows no sign of being intimidated. He's also entranced.

Livie, a duke's daughter and on the shelf at 25, has accepted the idea that she'll never marry. An accident when she was a child killed her mother and left Livie with a limp, and her experience prior to meeting Seb was that men are turned off by her disability. Seb, of course, just finds her delectable. But becoming partners with Seb pulls Livie into his world and its dangers; can this wrong-side-of-the-tracks relationship survive?

This story has the perfect blend of romance and suspense, and as romantic characters Livie and Seb are great. So why just four stars?

First, I found myself somewhat put off by the gazette idea. Yes, the men they plan to expose are awful guys and deserve to be punished. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but exposing them in print just feels... passive? A little oogie? To easy? I dunno, but it made me uncomfortable.

And second, the "mob boss with a heart of gold" trope has never done much for me. Yes, Seb has been working more and more toward legitimate business ventures but there's still that stroke of cruelty that doesn't sit well with me. One particular story about how he dealt with an enemy in his past is particularly harsh and off putting. Seb might have had all the right reasons but it was still too much, in my opinion.

I'm spite of these impressions, I enjoyed this book. It's fast paced and interesting. I did figure out the main mystery early on, but the red herrings were done especially well, and I still managed to be surprised by a relevation or two.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

I couldn't put it down!

This is a different sides of the tracks story, with a who done it story that has real backbone and a natural growth of love between the two main characters. Lady Olivia is out to find out what really happened to one of her best friends, she has to go to the "dark side" and enlist Sebastian's help.. or wears him down until he helps?!? I loved the world building, and all the characters, I hope there are more books that include Olivia's friends. I had many guesses/ theories while reading about the mysteries in the book, and was wrong about all of my guesses, which makes that book more enjoyable.

A great read that doesn't slow down at all, and hoping for more in this series.