Cover Image: The Dishonored Viscount

The Dishonored Viscount

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Member Reviews

Loved it! Louise and Marcus are perfect additions to the series cast of characters. I enjoy books where our hero and heroine are less than perfect and some of my friends from the previous books also stop by. Of course, that only makes you love them all more!! I definitely will recommend this book. I am so looking forward to The Rougish Baron. I'm hooked already.
Thank you Sophie Barnes and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

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Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was my first book my Sophie Barnes but definitely not my last! As I hadn't read the previous books in the series, some of the references to side characters went over my head but I still really enjoyed it and this book works perfectly well as a standalone.

I really liked Barnes' writing as the language she used felt very authentic to the time and made for a much more immersive experience. Louise was such a likeable main character who was funny, intelligent, and so brave to undergo such cutting edge eye surgery. I really loved Marcus and the ophthalmology aspect of the story. The specific medical references felt very well researched and added such unique and interesting details to the book, Their romance was such a cute slow burn and I found myself rooting for them all the way! I particularly liked how it didn't feel rushed or insta-love (as some romances tend to) and that that the scandal wasn't just brushed aside and everything immediately fixed by the wave of a magic wand.

There were parts that I would have liked more detail on, namely Louise's recovery period, but, overall, I really enjoyed it! I'd definitely recommend to any Julia Quinn fans and anyone who enjoys a fun regency romance novel. I'm looking forward to diving right back in and reading the rest of the books in this series.

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I really enjoyed reading, The Dishonored Viscount. I is quite different from anything I've read before. I appreciated that.

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Marcus Berkly has craved out a rewarding life for himself as a respected eye surgeon after his title and all that entails was stripped from him when his father was executed as a murderer. Suffering the sins of the father isn't fair, but it's the way of the ton and Marcus has reconciled himself to it. When he helps Lady Louise when her eyesight fails at a ball, it sets him on a journey that he could not have anticipated. He admires Lady Louise's bravery as she agrees to undergo eye surgery that is cutting edge, but one that not all the medical community agree with. Can Marcus help Louise see again?

This was such a unique and enjoyable story. Clearly, a lot of research went into understanding the surgery at the time. I loved and admired Lady Louise for her bravery in agreeing to let Marcus operate on her eyes. She was such a strong character throughout the book. Marcus was such an honorable man even telling Louise of his misstep during surgery. I loved watching their slow burn love story unfold. I thought Louise's father was an abhorrent character who cared little for his daughter and only for what society thought. The extended olive branch at the end of the book came about more from Louise's mother than her father. The plot moved along nicely and I'm looking forward to the next book from this talented author.

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I was instantly drawn into this lovely romantic story. I think that the author did great with entertainment of the story. I would have like for the heroine’s age to be twenty four or older. It was hard for me to read intimate scene with a woman of the young age of twenty. A wide age range or twenty four or older may work for the character. The plot I found very enjoyable to read. The romance was very sweet and charming among the characters.

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The book spends a good deal of time on the blindness of the heroine to educate the reader on the state of art in cataract treatment at that time in history. It is time well spent. The hero is spurned by society because his father was hanged for murder, costing him his title, property, and inheritance. But rather than wallow in his shame, he attends medical school and becomes one of the leading eye doctors in the country. The heroine lies to inveigle him into treating her but a misdiagnosis and a slightly botched surgery leads to continued impairment of vision in one eye although the other regains sight. They fall in love during her lengthy recovery which leads to difficulties from familial opposition and trust issues because of her falsehood. There is much excitement to follow but all is well that ends well. A very satisfying romance.

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

All her life, Lady Louise, daughter of the Earl of Grasmere, has had difficulties with her eyesight. With her cataracts moving, she'd had to undergo surgery after surgery, but the couching has never lasted long term. She knows that to go against her father, and the opinion of his friend and trusted doctor, would cause a rift in the family, but meeting the handsome Dr Berkly at a recent society event, and learning he would be able to perform surgery that would be long lasting, and save her from permanent blindness, she would do anything to make it happen. But, Dr Berkly also happens to be the son of the infamous Earl of Hedgewick, who had murdered his friend, and whom Marcus had had a hand in bringing to justice. In getting his father charged, he lost his title, estate, and reputation amongst the ton. However, Louise doesn't seem to care about it, and when the two spend a month together at her in-laws estate, while she's recovering from the secret surgery, they fall in love. Will they be to be together, or will their father's pull them apart?

I quite enjoyed the sixth book in this series, which I was approved for a while ago, and when I spotted another of Sophie's books available to review on NetGalley, I decided to give it a go, and liked this one just as much. Both of the main characters were fantastic to read about, and I loved how neither of them were perfect, and their flaws were on show here, as were the things in their pasts/families which were obstacles for them to overcome. Louise, as the youngest daughter of an earl, is expected to make a glowing match, but her sight troubles, which no one really knows the full extent of, have caused her to become somewhat of a laughing stock to the ton. She's had her heart set on one man since he rescued her from a fall during a dance, and it's only really her large dowry that will entice him. I felt like she was a little too focused on this person, and there's a definite lack of communication between her and Marcus which could've solved problems a lot quicker. All in all, a decent book, and can be read as a standalone.

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I am on the fence with this book. Normally I have read and enjoyed Ms. Barnes books, but this time I did not enjoy it as much. It was a heavy story. No light heartedness, no humor. Everything was just too heavy for my liking. I'm not saying that the book was not well-written, but I just did not enjoy it because of the heaviness of the entire book. I'm sure that other readers will enjoy it. This was just not the story for me.

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I voluntarily received a copy of The Dishonored Viscount via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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.

Though I have read Doctor/patient romances before this is the first one that went into great detail about the procedures. Something that at times was really enjoyable and other times too much. Did I skim read a certain operation scene? Yes. Yes I did.

The story itself was really interesting and though there was a bunch of side characters the focus remained on the hero and heroine which I greatly appreciated. I adored that their relationship started as friendship first and then built up to more. This is in addition to an immediate solely physical attraction

When reflecting on my experience reading this I think what keeps sticking with me is that Marcus is too perfect. He once states he does have flaws but I really can't see them. In that regard Louise also seems rather perfect. I just wish there had been a bit more depth to their characters.

The last say 20%? Is where the book began to lose me. It felt like it was going on far too long and so much back and forth. And Louise's father runs so hot and cold that I couldn't always tell if he was meant to have any redeeming qualities.

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The Dishonoured Viscount is an interesting approach to a historical romance.

The plot is based around the relationship that develops between Louise and Marcus after Marcus agrees to perform surgery to fix Louise's cataracts.

Firstly. I've never read a historical romance where the relationship develops between a doctor and his patient. Secondly I'm new to reading about a disabled female love interest.

I was relieved that this didn't play on the classic beauty and the beast trope and didn't 'fix' the disability present. Research was clearly demonstrated relating to methods of the period which I appreciated.

I enjoyed the spirited Lousie and her resolve, though did find her immature in her thinking/attitude for a 20 year old woman. Marcus was a perfect gentleman with the dishonor being a family matter rather than directly caused by him.

I think the plot lacked substance in the middle of the book but managed to claw it back by the end. Some plot lines were inconsequential and seemly got resolved instantaneously when they were no longer needed to make a point.

Louise's father also ran rather hot and cold. His behaviour and manner being one thing for the majority of the book, then taking a sharp turn so the story could be resolved for a happy ending.

Overall I enjoyed The Dishonoured Viscount and would read from this author again.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

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A charming addition to this series. A brave young lady of the ton and a once titled physician struggle to trust their hearts against all odds.

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I liked the slow built up of this story, the time Marcus and Louise spent in each other's company. So the beginning was slow (in a good way) and the end was very fast paced. I loved their journey to their HEA.

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This was my first book in the Series, but it works as a standalone. The Hero, Marcus, has come from a great family scandal ( this was certainly different from any other scandal I have ever read about!) and had gone on to build his life as an Ophthalmologist. Our Herione, Louise, is burdened by cataracts, from childhood, which gives the book little very unique storyline. Both are strong characters, and Marcus is almost too good to be true. The story has a little too much angst for my taste and rambled on a bit, so I am giving it 3-1/2 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book with my honest opinion.

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Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This is the last book in Sophie Barnes’ Diamonds in the Rough series (besides an upcoming novella). I’ve read all but two of the books in this series, but it is a standalone and does not require to have read all the previous. However, I will say that there are many overlapping characters, so I’d probably recommend reading all of them in order to fully get the context of everything happening.

Marcus Berkley was stripped of his title and place in society after his father is arrested and killed for betraying the crown. He now makes his living as a renowned eye surgeon (he works at the hospital we learn more about in the books The Illegitimate Duke and The Infamous Duchess). He meets Lady Louise at a ball and there is an instant attraction. Lady Louise has had failing eyesight her entire life, and in a last-ditch effort, enlists in the help of Marcus to perform surgery on her eyes and potentially save her eyesight.

I normally love Sophie Barnes’ books but this one left me a bit underwhelmed. It was kind of all over the place and some parts seemed really rushed (the 4 weeks she’s recovering) while others seemed way to drawn out (the end of book conflict – I don’t want to spoil anything). Overall, it was a cute story but not my favorite in the series. I wished we had gotten more insight into their relationship growing during her weeks spent in isolation after the surgery. Either way, it was so cute and I always love when the guy is absolutely totally head over heels, which this book definitely satisfied.

Additional note: as a native German speaker, there is a line in the book where he says “und nun?” and I think it would be more accurate to be “und jetzt?”. Not a big thing but something that stood out to me lol.
3.5/5 stars :)

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“I want more. I need more. And I’ve found all my heart could ever desire in Marcus. He has become the most important person to me, Papa, so it doesn’t matter how much you try to punish me for choosing him. Nothing in the world will ever make me change my mind.” 

Such a lovely romance between the lady Louise who thinks no one will ever see her and Marcus who has lost so much but sees a beauty in front of him.

I just enjoyed the journey and cannot wait to read more as soon as I possibly can.

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The book was fabulous. Marcus was the son of an of a murderer. He had lost his titles because of his father’s crimes. He has become a brilliant eye surgeon. Lady Louise was born with severe cataracts in both eyes. Her parents want her to have another painful procedure that doesn’t last. Marcus does a surgery that is more permanent. They agree to have him do the surgery at a faraway location so her father can’t stop her. They become close and fall in love. Her father doesn’t want her to be involved with him because of his father’s crimes. She runs off because her father wants her to marry an old man. Marcus has to rescue her from a dangerous situation. I can’t wait to read the last novella in the series.

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Although this novel checked all the boxes on what a good book should have, it felt pretty average to me.
The plot was a nice one, a little bit frustrating at times, but good nevertheless, although it could've been more powerful and charged, the events occurring were sparse and very few to my taste, i wished it contained more details.
The characters were decent, not extra lovable or swoon worthy, but what can i say, at least they were good people.
The writing style was engaging and fluid, it was easy to keep up with what's happening.
Overall, an okay read.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review via netgalley and the publisher*

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I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall I liked this book.
Marcus has been stripped of his wealth and titles after helping convict his father of murder.
Louise has cataracts which leave her blind eveytime rhe treatment fails.
Marcus has been a eye surgeon and in spite of her father , Louise has the operation.
The time with Marcus allows them to fall in love.
I feel like rhe end of the book was rushed and therefore lacking a little. I also wish Marcus and Louise had gotten to spend more time together in the book. This is the last book and the series except for a upcoming novella and was a good read.

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This was a very enjoyable story. Louise is smart, determined, and hardworking and it's easy to admire her and root for her happiness. Marcus is also worthy of admiration and quite likable, though he had some growth to do regarding his personal sense of self-depreciation.

Because of his father's horrifying deeds, and the tendency of the world to underestimate and devalue Louise because of her visual impairment, they have significant obstacles between them, but they overcome them in a way that makes they very worthy of their happiness. I like the chemistry and spiciness between them, and also the kindness and support they encounter, even from some unexpected places.

This is a pleasant, heartwarming read that leaves lots of good feeling in its wake.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

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Overall was an ok read but the main characters had no on page chemistry and the story was generiC and forgettable.

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