I enjoyed this historical romance. The hero of this romance is genuinely a good man —honest, kind, protective, and loving. The heroine is also genuinely a good woman. She's kind, loving, forgiving, and naive. Undesirable for different reasons, I found myself rooting for them from the beginning. The story has a love scene or two (maybe), but it’s not explicit.

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

A refreshing historical romance.

It was lovely to see a main character with a disability and not have be her entire personality. She was more that that!

The characters were well written and the entire story was enjoyable!

I loved the premise of this book. Marcus Berkly is the son of an Earl hung for murder. His title, entailed lands and money all reverted back to the crown, leaving his children, especially his son and heir, an outcast. Lady Louise is the daughter of an Earl who has severe issues with her eyes, sometimes resulting in blindness. Marcus is now a renowned opthalmologist who can perform a procedure to help her regain her sight by removing her cataracts.

This book had a few problems for me. It was very low steam. I did not feel the chemistry that should have been flying between these two. There were times that the story felt like it was dragging and that these two really didn't have the emotional connection I wanted them to have. I wish they had stayed longer with the Winterleys and that we could see their connection grow in a way I feel that we missed out on.. They didn't even kiss until more than 60% through the book. This is definitely what I would consider a low steam read. Just as I thought we were finally on track and heading toward the happily ever after, there is a random kidnap/ransom plot thrown in that really didn't feel like it belonged in this book.

This book does has some winning aspects. Lady Louise is a beautiful, afflicted heroine going against her father’s demands for the first time in her life and our hero is a man who has excelled in medical profession and doesn't let his past define him. I really enjoyed the medical sub-plot also.

This was an easy, sweet read with a unique and interesting story.

Oohhhh I love Sophie Barnes’ stories, and this is did not disappoint. Our heroine is Louise. She has severed vision problems and no cure— only palco and semi-effective treatment. She discovers that Marcus (our hero) can perform an operation that will help her long term. Great!!! Except Daddy won’t hear of it. Sooooo bring a heroine we can love, she schemes her way to get it done. Along the way, of course, feelings develop. I was genuinely happy for their puntual. Oh gosh…. then, I was nervous for their love story when all her scheming comes to light. Even I cringed! Well written and a definite repeat read!!!

Sophie Barnes writes beautiful and heartfelt romances of which The Dishonored Viscount is perhaps once of the more tender and sweeter of her Diamonds in the Rough series. The book follows Marcus, who we came across in Theo Forgotten Duke (and we get to see the main characters Guthrie and Marcus' sister Regina in this book), Now a doctor Marcus presents a solemn and ironically given the title a highly honorable man, finding himself treating the love of his life against her father's wishes. Lady Louise really pushes at the heart strings with the anguish her condition causes, as well as the hideous treatments she's had in the past. Her desperation and strongminded pursuit of her own wishes endear her strongly to the reader and she provides the heart of the book.
The narrative flows smoothly although I felt that Lady Louise's father was a cliche, other supporting characters more than made up for that.
Overall I really enjoyed the book, I would not have though a romance dealing with medical issues would interest me but Sophie Barnes wrote it in such a captivating way that the characters became the center of the book.. This book will appeal to lovers of historical romance and romance in general.

this book was read with publishers permission via netgalley but all opinions are my own.

London - 1828

Lady Louise is the daughter of the Earl of Grasmere. She has always had problems with her eyesight which has led her to undergo many painful procedures which have not helped her eyesight. Born with cataracts, a procedure called couching, has been performed numerous times that only provided temporary sight for her. When she steps outside for some air at a soiree, a gentleman is there and they chat for a few minutes. Her father sees her and insists she come inside. He then tells her that she must stay away from that man.

The man she was speaking with is Marcus Berkly, an eye surgeon and a dishonored viscount. He is the son of the Earl of Hedgewick who was imprisoned and hanged for killing another man. In addition, the Crown seized the family titles, property, and monies.

When she once again loses her sight while at a party, Marcus helps her and looking at her eyes tells her she has cataracts on both eyes and he can perform surgery to permanently remove them. Knowing her father would not agree, she enlists her brother’s help. They travel to the home of a family friend where Marcus performs the surgery and then Louise must rest for weeks afterward. That’s where Louise and Marcus get to know one another better and fall in love. Discovered by her father, she is told she must return home and marry a man he has chosen for her. Will Marcus and Louise be able to follow the man’s dictates?

Oh yes! Sophie Barnes is back with her brilliant writing. She has educated us all on surgery of the eye. In addition, with her fluency in multiple languages, she has taught us some German words. For me, she has created a beautiful love story that is clean with no unnecessary sexual encounters. This is a pet peeve of mine as I firmly believe that premarital sex was not common during this time period. Lovely story. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Marcus is such an interesting character.

I adored Marcus Berkly, the dishonored oculist. He's a gentleman, who after he was striped of everything, got an education and became an eye surgeon. He's kind, pragmatic, smart and decent. Everything you could want. Lady Louise has an enormous dowry and cataracts. I had never heard of couching before and I regret looking it up because its barbaric.

Lady Louise is very docile, mainly because she keeps loosing her eyesight. It made her dependent on her family and fearful of society.
She finally seeks out Marcus more out of dread of another couching session.

Recommend, because Marcus is just dreamy. He's want women really want.

This is book 8 of the Diamonds in the Rough series. I have loved this series because each book is totally different from the other. This book was no exception.
Marcus was heir to an Earl. He had his titles and property and money all taken away when his father murdered a Duke and was hanged for it. But Marcus went on to make something of himself becoming a doctor, an eye doctor/surgeon to be specific. Sand he was very good at what he did even if he was considered a social parriah.
Louise is the daughter of an Earl. She is the youngest and only member of her family who is not married. Louise has an issue with her eyes. She has cataracts in them that causes her to lose her eyesight. Because of this condition she is considered by many in the yon to be an invalid, imperfect, including her own father. So no one wants to marry her.
At a ball, Louise's eyesight goes out and Marcus is there to help her. He tells her of a new procedure that can surgically repair her eyes so this no longer happens. Her father will not allow it because of who Marcus is, a murderer's son.
But Louise has a mind of her own and arranges for the surgery to be done in secret. This leads to Marcus and Louise spending a lot of time together . Let the romance begin!
I loved this book ! I thought Sophie Barnes did a fantastic job developing the characters. Louise was a very strong heroine and Marcus was a perfect gentleman. She also used enough medical information so that we could understand the condition and the procedure without making it gory or boring.
I give this book 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

Flight for sight_____3.5

Lady Louise, daughter of the Earl of Grasmere, has an eyesight problem. It ruins her ability to freely enjoy herself at social occasions. She appears awkward, can’t dance, and becomes the focus for her vindictive societal peers. Louise’s parents are committed to her marrying well, even if the match is not to Louise’s liking. Her father is engineering a match for her with someone’s willing to overlook her disability. For now though he insists she have further treatment, ‘couching’ that is painful in the extreme. A needle is inserted into her eye and the lens pushed aside. Louise knows it will just be temporary. And wants to consult other specialists.
I found the problem with Sophie’s eyes not only real but gruelling and her experiences during surgery awful.(I felt the pain!)
Once more we see how females at this time (1820’s) are commodities within society. Males are touted as having superior knowledgeable and understanding. In reality they are given carte blanche by society to be as beastly as they like.
As far as Louise’s sight goes, convention insists that a father naturally knows better than a daughter what treatment she should have.
Meanwhile the male darlings of the ton are encouraged to look for a dowry rather than a person to wed. After all they can keep their mistresses and banish their wives to their estates.
Louise meets the kindly Mr. Nigel Fairbanks who has won her regard with his gentle treatment of her at social events. However Mr. Fairbanks might just not be all he appears.
Marcus Berkley lost everything—status, title, lands and inheritance when his father, the Earl of Hedgewick, was convicted for murder. Now he’s a doctor, an eye specialist. It’s to him Louise turns for help with her eyes. This is in secrecy due to her father’s opinion about Marcus coloured by the sins of Marcus’ father. Louise’s brother come to her aid, running interference.
This story has some winning aspects. Beautiful afflicted heroine going against her father’s demands, committed ex viscount who’s turned his life into a noble direction, unfeeling father, marriage uncertainties, mean girls and so much more. And yet my interest waned from time to time. Possibly some aspects were tied up too quickly and at other times a bit flat. Still the story came about and all was well.

A Sophie Barnes ARC via NetGalley

4.5 Stars
Marcus Berkly was heir to an earldom until his father was convicted & hanged for murder, then the crown ceased the title & all the lands & money. Marcus struggled but with help from his brother in law he went to Edinburgh & studied to be a doctor & is now London’s most skilled eye-surgeon, he dedicates his time to his patients while steering clear of Society. When Lady Louise discovers that Mr. Berkly’s surgical method could save her from permanent blindness, she decides to enlist his help. Against her father’s direct orders, she takes charge of her fate, and falls desperately in love in the process.
This is the eighth & final full length book in the series & a lovely end to the series. I’ve hoped that Marcus would find love & his story was thoroughly enjoyable. I loved both Marcus & Louise, he didn't wallow in self pity but made something of his life, she's been plagued with cataracts all her life but again didn't wallow, two lovely strong resilient characters. I must admit I did skim some of the passages about cataracts & the procedure. The pair became close as she recovered from the operation but with a furious father & the disdain of the ton their road to a HEA seemed doomed. I loved their journey against the odds & I read this enthralling book in two sittings, the pages just flew by
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

A noted eye surgeon agrees to perform surgery on a young lady's eyes before she goes totally blind.
Unfortunately her father keeps interfering to prevent it happening. Only her strong will to defy her father gives her a chance to have the surgery. Falling in love with her surgeon was not in the plan. Now they must fight against the odds for happiness. Recommended read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book

This was so different from other historicals I’ve read recently. The hero is a dishonored viscount who reinvented himself into an eye doctor. The heroine has cataracts and wants to learn about a new treatment from the hero. I’m not sure if I’ve read a historical romance quite like this before.
Each character has their own agency and the relationship between them builds slowly.
I truly enjoyed this!

I really enjoyed this story and thought both of the main characters were good, honorable and interesting people. The "ton" (society) that they had moved it was well shown when it came to the littleness of some people. You could almost feel how hurtful that the shunning was.
Back to Louise and Marcus Berkley...
I adored Louise and her determined, spunky backbone that just kept growing. She faced some really overwhelming obstacles to even get to have her vision restored. And her father is one of the biggest bullies that was trying to stand in her way. Feeling like he knew better than anyone and with not even desiring Louise's input on anything. He simply expected her to obey WITHOUT question. He cared about her but he cared even more about duty, his position in society, and appearances. He caused an amazing amount of problems. And it got even worse when Marcus shows up to help.
I felt bad for her when some people around her acted like she was a dimwit just because of her problems with sight. It was good to see though that she did have some people in her corner though.

Marcus sure suffered quite a while for doing the right thing. But as he says at one point, because of being stripped of everything, anything now is something that he has earned on his own merit. The friendship between Marcus and Louise is sweet to watch. Until Marcus backpedals trying to get back to a more neutral ground of professionalism. Yeah, how's that working for you Marcus? I have to admit there were several times I got a bit irritated with him and his trying to do what was best for Louise. Which usually meant removing himself from her life. He kept saying he had nothing to offer her. Good thing Louise has developed a backbone of steel when it comes to what she wants. Because of the life she has led she had become quite the problem solver. I liked that.
There is plenty of problems, twists and turns and action as the story goes along. But I LOVED the final outcome of the story. It put a smile on my face.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from Netgalley and am leaving my honest thoughts about it.

The tension, the romance and oh my the writing. The writing was absolutely amazing and made me really feel the tension between the couple. Every time they Interacted I just wanted them to kiss. Sadly the dad character totally ruined this book for me, every problem was revolved around him and I did not enjoy its he was just a selfish dick and.

This was a perfectly lovely story of how two people who have faced adversity learn to look beyond the superficial to find true love.

Marcus Berkly was once an upstanding member of the Ton; a Viscount with an Earldom in his future. When the actions of his father took it all away, Marcus was forced to make a choice - wallow in self-pity for all that he lost, or go the other route and show he's not the same type of man his father was. Choosing the latter, Marcus focused on medical school, eventually becoming a leading ophthalmologist.

Lady Louise has suffered from cataracts her entire life, and longs for the day when there's a procedure that will restore her sight in a more permanent fashion than the current treatments she endures. Regardless of her father's demands that she stay far away from Marcus, she knows he is her only chance at any sort of future.

The story really picks up when they leave London to escape Lady Louise's father, and perform sight-saving cataract surgery. They become close as she convalesces, even though they both know there is no future for them.

Naturally her father finds out, and things go wrong from there, but rest assured there is a happily ever after at the end.

The story is filled with interesting characters, delightful dialogue, and of course - steamy love scenes.

Even though this is the 8th in a series, I think it stands well enough on it's own. However, the series is incredibly enjoyable, and I do recommend reading them all.

Going into this book you know you might need tissues, just read the publisher description. But holy hell, I did not know I would need them practically throughout the story. Right from the beginning you see the horrors that Louise has endured and the total bull crap that Marcus has had to put up with but he rises from the ashes to make himself a better man. Honestly, I was wondering how they would reach a HEA but of course they would but how. This story is uplifting and sweet. Not your usual read and Sophie does a wonderful job showing us how these people overcome adversity. LOVELY!

This is an amazing story by Sophie Barnes. It tells the story of characters who fights adversity with grace. Marcus became an eye surgeon after being stripped of his title and funds because of a crime his father committed. Louise is a young lady struggling with her vision. The two accidentally meet and destiny is rearranged. Marcus and Louise seem destined to be star crossed lovers. Despite the roadblocks of being snubbed by the Ton, a disapproving father and other odds, they are able to hold on to their love. They show what love and determination can do to overcome adversity and win a happily ever after.

I enjoy this series more with each book. Marcus Berkly is everything you want an aristocrat to be and, yet, he no longer is one. He is handsome, intelligent, and, above all, noble. He might have lost his title and wealth, but he gained perspective, passion, and purpose. It suits him well in his new life as an eye surgeon.

Of course, none of these stellar characteristics make him an ideal son-in-law, but they do make for an ideal husband. Even Lady Louise, who is going blind, can see that. The attraction between the two is instant, but it isn't as much of a scorching heat as it is a warm, enticing fire you want to cozy up to. The problems come when proximity only makes them want to get closer.

Marcus is painfully aware of his low standing in society since his father was hanged for treason and stripped of his title and wealth. He has few friends and fewer acquaintances left despite his success as an eye surgeon. He knows that he is not good enough for Lady Louise.

Lady Louise is equally aware of her limitations as she is rapidly going blind and Marcus offers her the only possible solution to prevent that. Even with the surgery, she feels she is no prize on the marriage mart, despite her massive dowry. There are other men who feel differently about her dowry, however.

Fortunately, fates intervene that, of course, force them to question everything they think they know so they can find their happily ever after. You cannot help but be swept up in these characters, to long for their happiness. Marcus is one of my favorite romantic heroes. His desperation for Lady Louise that is matched only by his desire for her happiness coupled with his own misguided sense of self is a truly compelling characterization.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Well, this Diamonds in the Rough series just gets better and better. I am a sucker for a wallflower who shows her backbone and an honourable hero with a tarnished reputation, so this book was right in my wheelhouse. With the perfect amount of pining and beautiful dialogue the story of Marcus and Louise entertained and tugged at the heartstrings in the best possible way.

The author has obviously researched ophthalmology practices of the era and the description of the operation Lady Louise undergoes may not be for the squeamish - but it loaned the book an authenticity that makes it such an interesting read. All I can say it, you can keep your carriages and ballgowns peeps - I'm grateful for anaesthetic!

I am fast becoming a rabid fan of Sophie Barnes. Pick this book up - you won't be disappointed.

The Dishonored Viscount is the final full length novel in the Diamonds in the Rough series. Each novel follows the main character through a development and drastic change in circumstances and the perseverance of staying true to oneself. Although the books can be read as a stand alone, in my opinion you would lose some of the enjoyment as the characters do appear in subsequent books.

Marcus Berkly has been stripped of his title after ensuring his father was tried and punished for the murder of a peer. Now, more than seven years later he has finally settled into his life as a well renowned surgeon and eye specialist. He is still shunned by the ton, but that has little bearing on his happiness until he meets the youngest daughter of the Earl of Grasmere.

Lady Louise has suffered with her eyesight since birth and it caused her to avoid social interactions. The fear of losing her sight looms as an ever present shadow on her potential happiness. After a brief encounter she may have found the solution to many more painful surgeries. Only issue is her father has forbidden her to speak with the one person who may be able to help her, Mr. Berkley. Usually the ever obedient daughter she is determined to make a stand for the best choice for her health. And she certainly gets more than she bargained for.
Hopefully you will enjoy Louise and Marcus story and the trials the face as they try to find their way to making the right choices for them both.