Brandan, Duke of Westbury, has spent his whole adult life being a disreputable rogue to spite his cruel father, and now he must marry an heiress to make sure his younger sisters’ have proper marriage prospects. Of course, West’s drawn not to any heiress, but to his sisters’ penniless music tutor, Viola. The plot isn’t particularly groundbreaking for an historical romance, but Lenora Bell has a way of creating characters you care about so much that it doesn’t matter if the story follows a familiar path. Viola is clever and kind and so musically gifted, a secret she hides from the world, and it’s hard not to want her to get exactly what she wants, even if that is a barely reformed rake.

Viola and West are so different but it works. She makes everyone around her want to be better, including him, and he believes in her so fiercely that it helps her be brave. She thinks he deserves more than the hollow life he’s created for himself, and he hates that she hides her talent to help support her tempestuous composer of a father. It’s obvious from the start that they want and are perfect for each other, but it’s also fun to go along for the ride and watch as they figure it out.

My main complaint is that I’m growing rather tired of historical romance heroes being rakes and rogues and gamblers because of their fathers. If they enjoyed that life, that’s one thing. But there are so many people like West, who are simply plodding through life playing a character and being kind of miserable to themselves and everyone around them. Do I love the rake with a heart of gold trope? Hell yeah. But I wish that sometimes a rake was just a rake and his behavior didn’t stem from mistreatment in his childhood.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The third book in the series it can be read entirely as a standalone

CW: death of parents (past), grief, parental abuse emotional and physical (past, briefly mentioned), parental domestic violence (past, briefly mentioned), violence, attempted abduction

Spoilers

-m/f historical romance
-unrequited crush
-forbidden romance elements
-sloooow burn
-close proximity

This was a fun, quick read. I loved the aspects of family and how these two were circling each other for a while before it became clear that they were a match.

Steam: 3

Duke Most Wicked is the third book in the Wallflowers vs. Rogues series that is full of steamy romance and undeniable chemistry that is sure to keep you turning the pages. Duke Most Wicked is a funny, cozy romance, which is like, the promise of the premise. I'll definitely be checking out more from Lenora Bell.

Duke Most Wicked
Book 3 in the Wallflowers vs Rogues Series
Rating: 4 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading Duke Most Wicked. West was really a wicked duke who, when it came to his sisters, had a heart of gold. I loved that about him. Though his relationship with his father was a difficult one, he never stopped caring and protecting his sisters. It's not until Viola, his sisters music teacher, that he finally realizes that his wicked behavior is indeed hurting his sisters chances of finding a match. West and Viola were so sweet together and their bantering was so much fun to read. She really pushed his buttons early on and couldn't believe that she had the audacity to tell him his truths to his face.
Though I will say that I had a hard time keeping track of who was who. They were too many and all their names started with a B. LOL
For a minute I was worried how the author would bring West and Viola together because society, her lack of social connections and his immediate need of funds all stood against them. I'm also not a fan of when the ML is engaged to someone else while he has feelings for the FL. I really liked how this was resolved in the story. It was one of my favorite scenes.
I really enjoyed and look forwards to more from this author!

LOVE the red in the cover! The cover does match what happens in the story. I love it when book covers doe this.

Duke Most Wicked, third in the ‘Wallflowers vs. Rogues” series, has a well-known scenario of a debauched duke and a beleaguered wallflower, drawn closer and closer together with a mountain of obstacles ahead. Brandon Delamar, known as West, Duke of Westbury, responsible for his five sisters and determined to be irresponsible in his noble obligations, has squandered the family wealth, including his sisters’ dowries. His painful childhood is the basis for his depraved life, and he’s walled himself in to survive and to prove he can be the most wicked duke possible. Fortunately, he has employed a music teacher, Miss Viola Beaton, for his sisters. Viola is self-sacrificing, caring for her disgraced composer father and receding into an accepted spinsterhood and invisibility, despite being a talented composer herself. Her relationship with the duke’s sisters is joyful, loving, and creative, and they adore her. Remorseful over his destructive behavior, the duke has, it seems, only one solution to rectify the damage – marry a very wealthy woman, with the first candidate an American whose one goal is she marry a duke. Matters don’t go as planned for the duke - with a memorable, jaw-dropping scene when things spectacularly fall apart with the American and her money. Viola knows she is not duchess material, yet she has pined for West for years, despite his reprobate behavior. As West’s self-reformation progresses, the time West and Viola spend together simmers with longing, great banter, and steam.

The writer infuses a fine sense of humor at the right times. I doubt the collective noun for sister will ever be a “banditry” or a “haunting,” but for addicts of collective nouns, this was delightful. Also, the Boadicea Club on the Strand, well known in the first two books in the series, is rich with atmosphere and characters – and a welcome return in this story, not only for Viola who desperately needs her strong circle of friends for support, but for the reader to revisit from earlier books these interesting, determined women dedicated to providing “greater opportunities for females in the sphere of the Arts and Science.” Viola is one of the founding members. Their vibrant book club comes alive over Daphne Villeneuve’s Gothic romance trilogy, especially with titles like The Dastardly Duke’s Secrets. The club members’ robust discussions stand out, and I hope we revisit the book club in the future.

Viola’s exceptional musical talent helps her thrive in a life weighted with worries, sacrifice, and obligations. She lives in music, walks with music in her motions, thinks with music flowing from thought to thought. She cannot live without music. When she loves, she lives in a symphony. Love for life is a melody, and a kiss is a sonata.

The denouement is satisfying, and I enjoyed reading this book as I have the first two in the series. I wish the character West had explored ways to recover the family’s wealth and provide for a future on his own merits, not on a wife’s dowry. I felt an unease at how precarious Viola’s plight was as West pressed his attentions on her. He was her employer. Also, the initial dialogue of a few Club’s members seemed missing their spark, but certainly that was remedied as the story developed.

I look forward to any future works by this author. My opinion is all my own. I am grateful to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Lenora Bell for allowing me access to this book.

I LOVE Lenora Bell's books and writing. You never know what you will get, and she has written some of my favorite characters. The Duke Most Wicked does not disappoint.

Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, commits to a life of excess after an abusive father and a dark family secret are shared with him. But when Brandan finds out that his reputation is also ruining the lives of his 5 sisters, he commits to a reformation (of course, on his terms). Violet Beaton is the sister's music teacher and friend. When Brandan informs his sisters about his terrible plan for rehabilitation, she takes it upon herself to educate and correct him.

Right from chapter one, Brandan and Violet are pretty fun characters. I loved that they were already attracted to each other and their inner monologues were pretty self-deprecating. They were instantly relatable and endearing. I love that Violet tells Brandan some hard truths and instead of retreating, Brandan goes after her.

All of the characters were endearing and fun. Of course, Violet is friends with the heroines in the first two books of the series and believes that people can marry for love. She just needs to convince Brandan and not fall in love with him.

I am all over the grumpy/sunshine trope, my friends! This was a lot of fun to read, especially watching Viola grow into herself and be more confident. I could practically hear the music she was creating! West is...grumpy. But he loves his sisters more than anything and is willing to (begrudgingly) put aside his wicked ways to marry them off as quickly as possible. Watching him and Viola fight their attraction was so fun, especially when Viola got all bossy with him!

The one thing I didn't love about this book was Viola telling West that he needed to forgive his father. I totally agree that he needed to let go of his anger and move forward, but I don't agree that we need to forgive people who have hurt us terrible. Some things are unforgivable.

Other than that, this was a great read!

Lenora Bell returns to dukes…and does so dismally. This book was just too much, I had to quit 55% in. The “hero” is your typical rake with daddy issues, and while there are some endearing moments in that first half, he ends up imitating too many negative qualities of Shondaland’s interpretation of Anthony Bridgerton, from planning to marry off his sisters without consulting them to planning to marry for practical reasons, while keeping the woman he really has a passion for in close proximity. At least Kate wasn’t in Anthony’s employ.
And while he does stop things from proceeding further than a passionate kiss, he still can’t seem to treat the situation with the gravity it would typically deserve, even making a wager about her desire for him. While this is hardly the most egregious historical hero behavior, I rolled my eyes so many times at his simultaneous contradictory overinflated sense of his own desirability and immense self-loathing, I didn’t think I’d make it much further.
And then, there’s our heroine. She’s in a horrible situation…she is looking after her father, and she’s basically the main reason (at least of late) for his reputation as a composer, as she can’t publish her work under her own name. She and her father are implied to regularly deal with the demands of their landlord and noble patron (who is making his demands known when the oh-so-noble Westbury intervenes). She’s also working (with occasionally missed wages) as music teacher/governess to the Duke’s sisters. And against all logic, she’s in love with the man. I mean, I understood…at first. But why do poor historical heroines constantly go all gaga over these men who basically have the power of life and death over them? I was happy when she initially quit her job, Westbury’s intervention with their landlord only happened because he wanted to ask her to come back. And when he kisses her (still planning to marry for money), she’s still inexplicably swept up in his spell, despite having said earlier she wouldn’t be anyone’s mistress. What does she think will come of this arrangement?
Apparently, Westbury’s money problem is solved at the end, and he no longer has to marry for money. But it just sounds way too convenient for me to be bothered. Also, the ethical violations! Maybe Lenora Bell didn’t mean for this book to come off as gross as it did, as she did discuss writing a book with a similar dynamic in the immediate aftermath of MeToo, and that one was better. And maybe it’s another sign (among many) I’m just too grumpy and cynical for a lot of historical romance anymore.
And it really is a shame, as I really liked where this series in particular was going, even if I had issues with the previous book. But in hindsight, a lowborn grifter who wants to better the world through his scam to take on a ducal title through dubious means for the greater good doesn’t sound half as bad (even considering the deception of his wife) compared to an emotionally stunted man manipulating the lives of the women around him without full awareness of the impact it will have on them.

Brandon Delamar…heir to Duke of Westbury, often abused by the duke, and vowed to be a never try to please the duke again after the birth of his baby brother. Viola Beaton…has fallen on hard times due to her famous father’s illness, disgrace and debt, becomes a music instructor, and is a member of the Boadicea Club on the Strand. The H did not have a loving relationship with the man he called father because the duke considered him to be wicked. For many years the H has lived life on the edge but now he must curb his ways as he is now the protector and responsible for four sisters of marriageable age. The H must clean up his behavior in order to ensure his sisters find suitable marriages. The h is the music instructor to the Delamar sisters and finds herself secretly attracted to the H. The H is aware of the h presence but believes his bad reputation prohibits any interest. The h is spunky. As music is a vital part in this story, there is a great deal of music ideation when describing feelings and /or emotions. The H has an alpha male personality and an angry outlook on life, where the h has a nurturing and selfless personality. The H believes that he is unworthy of love and happiness. The h has a secret. There is a difference of class, revenge, and of course some steam.

A absolutely adore this book, as I do most of Lenora Bell's books. Duke Most Wicked tells the story of Viola and West. I will say I wanted to strangle West a few times for how much he allowed his past to control his future. I love Viola, especially how utterly besotted, clumsy (at times), a bit goofy, and immensely talented she is. I can't recommend this book enough!

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

This one was weird because I could have sworn I read the other books in this series. I remember a Duke nicknamed Thorn, a Duchess wearing breeches, and a group of so-called wallflowers meeting as a secret group and encouraging each other. But apparently, those novels were all written by another author, as it would appear this is the first novel I've ever read by this author.

So what can I say about a Duke Most Wicked?

It was.... interesting in the way romances that throw together a lot of cliches tend to be. First, we have West; our Duke, who, because of his crippling daddy issues, gambles away nearly all of his money (including his five sisters' doweries) and becomes the most debauched man in London. Until he overhears the objects of his eldest sister's affections besmirching her character, he decides that the only way to ensure his sisters' happiness (most of them) is to arrange marriages for them, after he secures his own heiress to solve all of his money problems of course.

Enter Viola, the daughter of a disgraced composer and the currently employed music teacher to West's sisters. She champions for them to have a season and eventually wins. To which West asks her to act as a companion to them, which of course, means she and West are now constantly in close proximity to each other. And even though he is engaged to marry an obscenely wealthy American heiress, neither of them can stop having inappropriate thoughts about the other.

Of course, because these two are the main characters, the American heiress ends up jilting our Wicked Duke (and yet the money he has already spent providing for his sisters and paying off his debts is just forgiven by her father for some reason). This means he is free to have sex with Viola. Because of course, they can't marry. Not only is she wholly unsuitable as a Duchess, but she's also practically penniless herself (due to the fact that her father, who was once a world-famous composer, but, as mentioned previously mentioned, was disgraced and has hearing issues, is so wholly focused on his "masterpiece symphony" that he does nothing else leaving poor Viola not only to seek employment but to also compose her own music in her father's name in order to pay the bills). And please don't get me started on how every single time they are in each other's company (or kissing or fornicating), Viola sets it to music.

Seriously. You can't read a love scene in this novel without her thinking about percussion, soaring notes, and just about every other musical term you can think of. I'm sorry, but if she is composing symphonies in her head, he must be doing something wrong.

Just when things are looking up, Viola overhears something she shouldn't, and instead of staying until the end (or bursting in with righteous anger), takes off, forcing the Duke to track her down. Which, of course, he does, but then for some reason, he thinks that his and her gravestones are an appropriate way to begin a proposal? Or that he should end said proposal with "will you be buried next to me" Uh... I'm sorry, what? How is any of that romantic?

But of course, it wasn't until this shortly before he proposed that he realized his father left everything to him upon the death of his YOUNGER brother (which again just gives me pause as the rules governing their lives back then I don't think would have allowed his father to leave so much to the spare and so little to the heir), so it no longer matters that Viola is poor. It no longer matters that she is below him in rank. They can get married, and everyone can live happily ever after!

To sum up, this story is kind of cute, really cliche, and also a little cheesy at times. If this sounds like something you would like, grab a copy and enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #DukeMostWicked by Lenora Bell in exchange for an honest review.

I just love Lenora Bell's books! She always delivers fun, sweet, light-hearted romps. She is an auto-buy author for me and the Wallflowers vs Rogues series is my favorite of her books because of the gender swapped fairy tale retellings. West has been my favorite side bae in any and all books that he has made an appearance. I was so excited to read his story. Bell delivered West to me exactly how I wanted him. He fell so hard for Viola, my sweet little musician heroine. I could have used more Little Mermaid references in this book but I'll admit I haven't watched that movie in a while so I might have missed some of them. I hope we get stories for all of West's sisters because I loved them all in their own unique ways. West's relationship with his sisters was also a wonderful addition to this book.

Duke Most Wicked, by Lenora Bell. I had a lot of fun reading this book. Brandan and his younger sisters are absolutely adorable in the book, but it’s the funny moments that has Brandan pulling his hair out. These moments contributed to a few entertaining episodes. As I read further in the book, Brandan almost seem as though he’s a father to the young ladies.
I liked that Viola’s character was not a pushover. Her character I found to be influential, intelligent, independent and charming, but it was Brandan who saw her as a vixen. His vixen. The writer did a fantastic job of creating a love story where two people have the same goal of protecting the ones that they love and are willing to do anything to do it. The romance in the story was charming and very romantic.
The story clearly spells out why Viola fell for Brandan and the same could be said for Viola, but it was Brandan attraction that was intense, raw and passionate. The book is a great page turner that will have you finish reading the book in one sitting. I absolutely loved the happily ever after. Until next time my fellow readers… read on!

@Netgally @Avon @HarperCollins Publisher #Netgally #BetweenTheChapters @Goodreads @Bookbub

I absolutely adored this novel, I adore Lenora Bell and the Wallflower vs. Rogue series! Bell's third installment in this series, sparkles with wit and charm and burns with sensuality. Bell's writing is wonderful and brings to life this delightful romance and promises lot's of more delight to come from this series! I think this series gets better and better with each installment and Bell is doing a fantastic job bringing to life a variety of characters who are well rounded and strong. If you love watching a hero discover love and heroine finding her true inner strength, this is the novel for you!

Viola is a music instructor to a rakish duke's sisters. She is steadfast, and full of charm, but she ofter feel like the side character in her own story. She has secretly be harboring a crush for the duke, but she knows that it can never be, because he is in need of an heiress. Brandan, the duke, was scarred by a dark secret in his youth, and has lived a carefree life of drinking and gambling. But now that his sisters need to make advantageous matches, he knows he must put his life back on the straight and narrow.

I was so charmed and taken by Viola as the heroine, she is smart, she is an artist, she is strong, she is optimistic, she quietly stays in her place until she knows she must stand up for herself and the people she cares about. I love that she is able to find her strength and stand up to Brandan in many moments that help not only her but the people she cares most about. I loved Brandan as our hero, he is fun and lighthearted on the surface but deep down he feels deeply and cares strongly. I love watching Viola and Brandon's relationship grow from friendly to true friends. I love that Brandan begins to see Viola for who she truly is, I love that he is proud of her talent and I love that he encourages her to embrace her brilliance. I love that Viola and Brandan are both strong and capable on their own, but together they are dynamite and bold. This friends to lovers romance is carefully built through trust and understanding and a steady building of sensuality. And while this romance is a bit of a slow burn it is well worth the wait when these two explode passionately together. Bell does a beautiful job building a foundation for them to develop deep feelings, and giving Brandan the insight to know that he will not settle for anything less than Viola. Viola also learns her true value and will not settle for less than what she truly deserves as well.

If you love a wallflower and a rake, you will love this novel! This is an absolutely must read for any historical romance lover!

Does historical women's fiction exist? Because I think this book was that. When a slowburn goes beyond 70%, for me that stops being a romance. At the beginning I really enjoyed this book, especially taking into account that book 2 had left me a bit bummed. I expected something different from Viola and West. I knew they couldn't be together instantly because of West's debts, but I think it went too far, and then everything started resolving in very convinient ways just so they could be together. Still, the slowburn was too much (a kiss around the middle of the book doesn't do it for me, sorryyyy), and I didn't feel very fulfilled.

I did enjoy Viola's relationship with West's sisters. They were all adorable!

Rating: 3/5
Steam level: 1.5/5

TW: Child abuse, domestic abuse, abduction

Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for my ARC. Opinions are my own!

This is a really fun and delightful series, and this cover is absolutely gorgeous! I love the vibrant red!

I think, for me, this book has fallen victim to being read between so many other incredible books. It's good, it's a standard historical romance, but it just didn't sparkle to me. It was a really easy read, and I always enjoyed myself each time I picked it back up. But a lot of the plot points felt...choppy? Maybe choppy isn't the right word, but it felt as though everything was very convenient and it read blocky, without the plot naturally flowing. And there was so much happening, that it felt a bit lacking focus, which made the pacing feel off. West was definitely the highlight, even though his waxing on about being wicked got to be a little much. He definitely had his moments though that made me swoon!

I think this will fit in well with the rest of the series, and I know some people will really like it. I still enjoy the authors writing style and this group of women and their stories, this one just didn't work as well for me as the others did!

West's father always hated him. As a child his father would try to beat the wickedness out of him. After being sent away to school after another boy is finally born (after 5 sisters), he decides to live up to the expectation that he is wicked and depraved. As an adult and now the Duke, he has gambled away his (and the family's fortune.) He finally realizes his reputation is ruining his sisters' chances to make good marriages. His notoriety and loss of their dowries will make it hard to find them husbands. He decides to sell his title by marrying a rich American whose father is willing to pay to make his daughter a duchess. Viola is the daughter of an infamous conductor who, much the same as West, lost his money and reputation. She has been working as the sisters' music teacher. Always the caretaker, staying in the background, wearing drab clothes, going unnoticed. For years she has loved West. What did she see in him to fall in love with him at his worst? I don't really know. His actions of depravity are skimmed over. I'm unclear on how many years she hung around without him noticing her, many months unpaid too. He finally notices her when she stands up to him. The problem is, he's engaged. Since she's poor and without family connections, he could never marry her anyway. His 5 sisters were entertaining but their names all started with the letter B. I couldn't keep them straight. The resolution to all their money problems was just a little too pat. Oh come on, really? Many references to characters from previous books and series. It didn't really change the story besides the reader knowing there was another book behind every couple mentioned.

I'm thinking--boss/employee interclass rake romance, yes?

The Duke of Westbury is in a tight spot. He's gambled away the family fortune (because of his Secret Pain) and ruined his reputation, which has affected the marital prospects of his younger sisters. His only option is to find a rich heiress to marry, clean up his act, and ensure that his sisters have good husbands as soon as possible. Cue Viola, his girls' quiet music teacher, whom West assumes will be able to shepherd them into high society. The problem? Viola has long nursed an unsaid passion for West, which--coupled with his realization that she is in fact QUITE fuckable--could ensure a scandal he won't be able to come back from.

If you've never seen the early 2000s era Hugh Grant/Sandra Bullock romcom Two Weeks Notice... I don't know if you should. Parts of it haven't aged well, most of a cameo from Donald Trump (I mean, to be fair, who the fuck could've known). But what I do remember enjoying so much was the "hapless slutty boss/put-upon employee" dynamic. Is it politically correct? Who's to say. Is it fun as hell? Yes.

And to me, Duke Most Wicked gives you that without the horrible Trump cameo. West is something of a clueless rake, and it is delightful. He basically wakes up one day and is like "I have no money and everyone hates me--how did this happen?" When it's really not that hard to think of how this happened. He'll literally put his dukes up and get ready to fight at the slightest provocation, and everyone will be like "huh, weird". He's just hilariously slutty and fun and ridiculous, and I enjoyed him immensely.

Viola is a quieter heroine, in the way that she kind of has to be to contrast with West--but she's also deeply horny. She's been lusting after her boss for quite some time before our story begins, and it is certainly mutual once she comes into focus for him... But he can't act on his feelings, as he's worried about how a boss/employee affair (which can't go anywhere, as he must marry for money) will look and affect his sisters' standing. There's a lot of "I don't want to want you yet I do" in this book, and I was not mad at it. Viola knows that she shouldn't fall for West's seductions... and West knows he shouldn't be seducing her. But--oh well!

What I also found interesting was the presence of female friendship. There's a really cute scene wherein Viola and her friends (all of whom I imagine are past heroines or future heroines--this is my first Lenora Bell, so I'm not sure) sat and giggled and speculated about what the fuck he was doing to her in a prior scene. It was just very wholesome. Nobody made Viola feel bad for "allowing liberties", and no one acted like a total clueless idiot. I loved the sex positivity.

The ending of the book is somewhat convenient and easy, and I wish there would've been a bit more angst on that front... But I can't complain too much. It's a funny, cozy romance that does in fact involve piano sex. Which is like, the promise of the premise. I'll definitely be checking out more from Lenora Bell.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Another fun installment in Lenora Bell's world. I'd been eager to get Viola and West's story for a while, after the glimpses of them in earlier books, and this did not disappoint. I read it quickly and with a smile on my face. I can get a bit twitchy with self-loathing heroes, but fortunately West spent enough time being sweet to Viola and his sisters and actively deciding/working to improve himself that I never felt bogged down in his problems. I liked that his journey was gradual throughout the book as well, rather than a sudden change at the end. And I loved seeing Viola learn to stand up for herself and go after what she wanted. The sisters were all very funny, and I especially liked bug-loving Bernadette and cricket-playing Betsy. I would gladly read books about them. There was a bit of "evil other woman" with the American fiancee at the beginning, but fortunately it didn't drag out and she had some hints of more to her character. Fans of the series and of light Regency romance will likely enjoy this.

A fun, quick historical romance. I liked Viola even though she leaned into her long-suffering-ness a little too much. West was a real dummy (affectionately) but he and Viola did make a good pair. A good and diverting read for a few hours.