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The Dishonored Viscount

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Member Reviews

This book was just ok. I didn't feel the chemistry between the characters. I did like the medical aspect to the story.

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The Dishonored Viscount by Sophie Barnes is yet another example of this authors ability to blend historical content, charming characters, witty dialogue, explosive chemistry, heartfelt emotions and pulse pounding passion all perfectly together creating the perfect historical romance! This series just gets better and better with each new story, Dr. Marcus Berkly and Lady Louise’s tale, fits in perfectly.

I enjoyed this story from beginning to end and read the story straight through…just couldn’t put it down! I highly recommend this book, the Diamonds in the Rough series, and any other book written by Sophia Barnes!

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 4 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥

📚I received a review copy from the author via Netgalley and chose to review — all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for the chance to read & review. 🦄

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A fun and relaxing read, There were moments when, of course, the actions of Louise and Marcus were a bit see through, obvious, but that is what you expect from a book of this kind. I was looking for a fun read set in a more romantic era, and that is what I got. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

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this checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read. Historical fiction oh yeah. Love me some of this.

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London 1828

A journey that pulls at the heart as a wonderful man is determined to help a lady in need.

Esteemed Eye doctor, Marcus Berkly is trying to live his life quietly, due to the well know crimes of his father. Unfortunately, when anyone learns his name, it seems they want to shun him and not acknowledge his successes.

Lady Louise has led her life in fear since she was seven. Having lost her sight and then gone through a painful procedure to have it come back, every few years she has to go through the same thing. Now at a ball, it happens again.

Unfortunately her father will not allow her to go to Dr Berkly, who has a miracle procedure that could make the blindness go away permanently!

Simply wonderful story as these two come together, he helping her eyesight and they begin to fall in love. But will they ever be together? So sighworthy!

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I love this series and this latest installment is another gem! Sophie Barnes brings a us a hero who, by society's standards should be a blackguard like his sire. But we shouldn't paint everyone by the same brush. Equally matched is his heroine Another hit for me!

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I really enjoyed Marcus and Louise's story! I loved the Louise fought for what was best for herself even if it went against her father's wishes. I really enjoyed watching these two fall in love!

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Book 8. Lady Louise is dangerously close to becoming blind. After struggling her whole life with her bad vision it is beginning to look like she will have to make the decision between going through another painful and temporary procedure or succumb to blindness. Enter Marcus, the dishonored Viscount. After facing the social repercussions of his fathers crimes he has begun an career as an optometrist. Marcus brings with him knowledge in a new procedure that will be permanent and though her vision will not be perfect she will be able to see with glasses. Thus starts their relationship as they stay in close proximity as she makes choices that will change her life forever.

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A wonderful mix of medical history and a heartwarming romance. As I started reading I came across the term couching for treating Louise's eyes and I was down the endless rabbit hole of discovery. When I emerged the story tugged at my heart for her battle for medical freedom, to choose HER course of treatment. This is such a profound issue through the ages, no more than today. While she is not at her majority to be out from under her father's thumb, she fought for her future and the life she wanted.

Marcus, where to start. So atypical of the usual entitled lords that were his peers. He took his life and future in his own hands and with hard work, something foreign to said peers, and determination he carved out a life of satisfaction, pride and reward of helping others. He gained renown through his skills and the personal knowledge that he is making a difference in the lives of others. His bedside manner is one of the doctor we all wish to be blessed with, caring, attentive, empathic and feeling he is above hos patients.

Seeing the odyssey they each experience as they discover their love was so touching. Marcus especially had the more interesting and difficult time. He was constantly torn between his heart, his profession and the disgrace his father left behind. Louise's grand gesture had tears threatening for me. Seeing how it humbled Marcus warmed my heart.

Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in anyway.

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Sophie Barnes' books are so romantic and swoon-worthy! This was another excellent addition to this series! I love the Beauty and the Beast trope, and this one is perfect for that. Both characters are flawed, and you don't see that a lot in HRs. It was so unique that the heroine needed the Hero and his medical expertise. I loved it!

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I generally love Sophie Barnes so I was excited when I saw this book offered on Netgalley. Unfortunately, I found this book to be a bit derivative. The plot was more predictable than I would have preferred and I felt that the love Marcus and Louise claimed to have for one another was not supported by the relationship they had built. Their declarations of affection were saccharine and superfluous. Also, Louise’s father was almost a caricature of a villain.

How would I fix it? For one, I’d have more interaction between Marcus and Louise, rather than internal conflicts about whether the other cares, and in Marcus’s case, his concern that his feelings for her were unprofessional. It was not completely lacking, as Louise shared her desire to found a school for blind children and Marcus shared his story of falling from grace and working to find meaning in his life. There was much for the other to admire about the other, but marrying for love when they hadn’t actually known each other for very long (and yes, I know it can happen) seemed a bit impulsive in light of all Louise had to lose. It was right for Marcus to be concerned that Louise was too young and did not comprehend what she was considering.

I’d have also liked to see a glimmer of care from Louise’s father. When it is revealed that he actually did something to make Louise happy, it is glossed over as incidental while I felt it was significant and could have added depth to his character. Louise’s feelings about her father seemed to be based more on fear and deference than on love. Meanwhile, her mother was two-dimensional and offered nothing of value to the story. Faced with the prospect of not having either of them in her life, it seems unlikely to me that anyone would feel much of a loss.

What did I like? Well, the descriptions of Louise’s eye surgeries, though they made me cringe, were enlightening and (to be honest) riveting. I couldn’t look away (pun intended). The emotions were realistically conveyed, and yet another reason for Louise to resent her parents. The aftermath of the surgery performed by Marcus was a good opportunity to highlight Louise’s bravery and fortitude as well as Marcus’s compassion and professionalism.

Overall, the book was good. Unfortunately, sometimes an opinion on a book can be influenced by the book read prior to the one being reviewed. The last one I read earned 5++ stars so, in comparison, I couldn’t rate this as highly. Nevertheless, I feel it was time well spent reading it and I enjoyed it.

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The medical information was very interesting especially when I have a family member who is an ophthalmologist. I had to cringe for Louise who had to undergo painful eye surgery multiple times. Kudos to her for taking a stance for her well being against her father’s wishes. However, I found the romance so low key I didn’t feel a connection between the MC’s. There was no fiery passion, no romantic angst, therefore I was not invested in their story. I only made it to chapter 8 out of 18.

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I absolutely adore this author & this series!! I’m beyond happy I was given a copy to read!! It was such a wonderful read! The characters are amazing and full of depth! Lady Louise is our strong, determined heroine. She has sight problems and already lost it in one of her eyes. She is kind of an outcast even though her dowry is large. Louise wants a different eye procedure by the premiere eye surgeon. Which just happens to be our hero, Marcus. He’s a former Viscount, lost all when his father was convicted of murder. He’s a kind man. I really adore him! These two have such amazing chemistry & lots of tension!! When Louise’s parents say no to the procedure, her brother and his wife help her. It was quite an adventure watching these two find love & make it to an HEA! They had secrets, kidnappings, & a coach accident along the way! But such a satisfying ending for Louise & Marcus!! I highly recommend this book and the whole series! This was the last in the series.

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While Marcus has a profession that is unique to the time period and Louise was in need of his services it wasn't enough to hold my attention for the entire book. The flow of the story was a bit disjointed in parts near the middle/end for me. It really had potential and I did like the characters. Louise and Marcus had the spark but lacked communication and trust in each other for the majority of the book. I think also this contributed to the dull romance part of the book.

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Quite a different story than the norm. I enjoyed the storyline with the strong characters and the medical aspect which was included in the story. Louise and Marcus (our h and H) were wonderful and resilient. Marcus due to no fault of his own was stripped of his title and funds but, went on to make himself a self made man garnering respect. But there are other obstacles to overcome if Louise and Marcus are to find their happily ever after.

I was gifted this book as an ARC and this is my voluntary and honest review.

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This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and In my own words.

This book is about the history of the treatment of cataracts. Early on, doctors used a procedure called couching as treatment (inserting a needle into lens of eyes); the doctors had no accreditation. The procedure did not work most of the time and so people had to have it done many times.

This is a story about a young woman who had had the procedure many times and it did not work.

There was a doctor who had developed a new procedure to remove and replace the lens of the eye with great success.

The father of the doctor had killed a man and had been executed; all his family were stripped of their land, titles, etc.

The father of the woman with the eye problems would not let his daughter have the new treatment because of what the doctor's father had done.

Instead the father insisted that his daughter have the couching procedure done again and again because of his prejudice against the father of the doctor.

Nevertheless the woman went to the doctor to have the new cataract removal procedure even though this was against her father's wishes and all the tone.

The new procedure was a success and the woman did not have to have the couching procedure done again.

It was a timely reminder of how fragile we all are. I have had a stroke within the last month. This was the first story I read after my stroke. I have had cataracts removed and am glad that I had that surgery.

It really is an emotional story!

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I picked this up because I thought I’d read the entire Diamonds in the Rough series so far, and I always look forward to the latest installment. Although it turns out I managed to miss one (The Forgotten Duke), and obviously I’ll have to go back.

While I haven’t loved any of the series quite as much as I did the very first book, A Most Unlikely Duke, I’ve certainly enjoyed them more than well enough to keep coming back for more. So I’m actually kind of glad I missed one because it will give me an opportunity to catch up between now and the next. Especially as it looks like the story in that book leads directly to this one – not that plenty of other things haven’t as well.

All of the stories in this series start with the premise that either the hero or the heroine – and usually it’s the hero – is not worthy of the love of the heroine, nor her hand in marriage. At least unworthy according to the strict – and strictly hypocritical – rules of Regency high society.

Marcus Berkly used to be the heir of the Earl of Hedgewick. From a certain perspective, he still is. But where he was once the heir to the Earldom, now he’s heir to nothing but the scandal and opprobrium rightfully attached to his father’s name. The title, the estate, and everything Marcus expected to inherit were forfeit to the Crown when his father’s crimes were revealed.

Society can no longer sneer at his dead father, but they can certainly administer the cut direct to Marcus at every opportunity. So he does his best to give them as few opportunities as possible. After all, with the loss of his estate, Marcus has been forced to work for his living. And he does. After long years of training, Marcus Berkly has become an inventive, esteemed and highly-respected eye surgeon.

Which is where the rest of the story comes in. Lady Louise, the daughter of the Earl of Grasmere, has cataracts, and has since she was a girl. The usual treatment for her condition is to “couch” her eyes, inserting a needle into the eye and moving the occluded lens aside. It works, at least for a little while, and is just as painful as you might expect.

Berkly is pioneering a new and permanent treatment for the condition, and has a high success rate for the operation. Which is to remove the occluded lens completely through a tiny cut. It’s even more painful than couching, the recovery time is longer, and without a lens in the eye the patient will have to wear eyeglasses for the rest of their life. But it’s permanent.

Louise wants the treatment. Desperately. Every time the couching fails, as it inevitably does, she’s blind until the next painful treatment. Once and done – no matter the pain – seems like an extremely worthwhile trade to her.

But not to her father. Who is stubborn, a stick in the mud, a dictator in Louise’s life and a stickler for the rules. He refuses to consider the new treatment, because he’s hidebound, because her current eye doctor is a long-term friend, and especially and mostly because of the scandal attached to Marcus’ name.

Louise is not supposed to have any agency in this situation. Her father certainly believes that she does not. So she takes it – and herself – out of his clutches and concocts a plan to get the treatment she needs and should be entitled to.

That she and Marcus will have to stay in the country – properly chaperoned of course – for an entire month has no bearing on her plans when the scheme takes flight. But by the time her father finds her and returns her to London, her view of the world and her future in it has changed.

And not just because she can finally see.

Escape Rating B: One of the things that is glaringly obvious in Regency romances written today is the way that the hypocrisy of the ton is set out in such sharp relief. Marcus Berkly has done absolutely nothing wrong. Not by any standards whatsoever. He has not committed any crimes, he hasn’t cheated at cards, he’s just a reasonably decent man who is suffering from a huge case of guilt by association. As one of the characters in the story put it, how was he supposed to disassociate himself from his own father? Not that he didn’t want to, but seriously, how does one do that?

The story also exposes the way that everything in high society functions is all about the appearance of obeying the rules, which seems to be the biggest rule of all. So it’s not that all of the offers for Lady Louise’s hand are from fortune hunters, it’s that the obviousness of that issue is not exposed to society in a way that can’t be ignored.

On the one hand, the sheer, intended and intentional helplessness of Louise’s situation grates like rough sandpaper. And on the other, that she grasps the nettle by the thorns and gets herself the treatment she needs in spite of her father’s threats is very well done. She wants more from her life than a miserable existence as some man’s decorative object and broodmare, and she’s willing to be exiled from society to get it.

Her father is such a jackass about the whole thing that he becomes a caricature. There were plenty of legitimate reasons for not approving the new treatment but he went the high-handed dictator route instead. He actually did have reasonably good intentions for his daughter, even if he went about them in the worst and most tyrannical way. Maybe he does make sense, but I found him even more of a trial than Louise did.

Marcus also falls prey to the “I’m not worthy” syndrome because society has forced it upon him, along with a heaping helping of “she doesn’t know her own mind” which made me want to strangle him at points. At the same time, it’s so clear that he’s a very good man and might possibly be good enough for Louise. Maybe. If he works very, very hard.

She’s the one I wanted to see get her HEA. After all, she’s blackmailing her father, which takes some serious gonads. She earned every good thing that finally comes to her, because she’s the one who gets tried the most, and she’s not found wanting.

The men in her life, not so much.

Still, I had a good time reading this latest book in the series, which, according to the author, is the last full-length novel in it. But I still have The Forgotten Duke to go back to when I want to take a quick trip to the Regency, and a new novella in the series, The Roguish Baron, to look forward to this holiday season, when it will be included in The Rogue Who Stole Christmas anthology.

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

Marcus lives with the shame of his father's crime and suffered losing his title-only to build a new life as the greatest eye surgeon in England. With the fear of losing her sight permanently, Louise goes to him, requesting his help very much against her father's wishes. He agrees, even knowing this may cause him trouble. As she heals, they have the chance to spend time together, and their relationship quickly becomes more than doctor/patient. But Louise may not have been truthful with Marcus, and now the career he's worked so hard for is in jeopardy, as is their future together.

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The Dishonored Viscount by Sophie Barnes is book 8 in the Diamonds in the Rough Series. This is the story of Louise and Marcus. Louise is loosing her eye site and hears of a new procedure that she wants to try. Marcus was once a part of the Town but now is a eye surgeon. Although these two meet when Louise is in despair it doesn't take long for their feelings to grow into something more. I am a huge fan of Ms. Barnes so this was a must read. Really enjoy her stories.

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Really enjoyed the build up in this love story. The characters really got to know each other and that made the love they shared feel very realistic.

Well written, I will have to look into other books by this author.

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARc.

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