4.5 stars

Lucien Grenier, Duke of Crewe, has worked very carefully to cultivate a certain reputation within society that allows him privacy and room to conduct his business quietly andanonymously. He has done this to keep marriage minded mamas and theirdaughters away from him. He has secrets that need to follow him to the grave and others that he tends like precious plants to keep society at bay. Lucien has his three best friends to spend time with and that is sufficient.

Miss Jessamyn St Claire, is on a mission to right a wrong she thinks happened, but she does it have all of the information and some of her information is tainted by the beliefs of society. It is the latter that she uses to create chaos for Lucien. She is a very determined bluestocking, with wonderful skills in illustrating botanicals. It brings her pride, joy and occasional money to help her, her sister and their Aunt Matilda live a modest life on the fringe of society.

This was a delightful read. Jessamyn's plan was unique and I enjoyed the new approach to turning a hero's world upside down. Ms. Harrington brings her sense of humor along for a wonderful ride with quick banter and lots of humbling moments for Lucien. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. The heroes are presented with a marvelous depth from the many years they have known each other. This deep friendship allows so many crossover visits that help us learn more about each of them.

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the second installment of the series The Dukes of Darkness. Lucien Grenier, the brooding Duke of Crewe, is the kind of anti-hero readers love to loathe—until they fall for him just like the heroine does. This story will sweep you away into a Regency romance full of deception, slow-burning attraction, and delicious scandal.

Lucien has crafted his image as a villain with meticulous precision. He’s a rake, a rogue, a man of whispered sins and whispered-about mistresses. But beneath his dark cloak lies a tender heart with secrets far more noble than anyone suspects. When rumors emerge that Lucien is secretly helping nuns and orphans, the scandal threatens not only his persona but his very inheritance. Enter Jessamyn St. Claire, determined to dismantle Lucien's wicked image as revenge for her sister's ruination. Her weapon of choice? A forced reformation.

What follows is a delicious battle of wits and wills as Jessamyn peels away Lucien’s layers, only to find her carefully laid plans entangled with unexpected feelings. Their dynamic sizzles with chemistry and sharp banter, and the tension of their growing affection is masterfully built.

Deliciously sexy and emotionally layered, this book explores the cost of maintaining masks—and the risk and reward of removing them. With its biting wit, steamy romance, and a last-act secret that threatens to undo everything, this is will delight any fan of dark dukes with golden hearts and the clever heroines who see through them.

A seductive, smart, and surprising tale of love, lies, and the redemption of a rogue.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Jessamyn St Claire is going after the Duke of Crewe since he ruined her sister. She wants her sister taken care of and will do everything in her power to see that it happens.

Lucien Grenier, Duke of Crewe is a blackguard and he likes his reputation what he shows society. Lucien doesn’t want his secrets to come out it might destroy everything.

Jessamyn tells Lucien that he ruined her sister and he tells her he did not. While Jessamyn is trying to change his reputation she finds out he’s not who she thinks he is.

As Lucien shows up where Jessamyn is they are attracted to each other. Feeling become involved but he tells her he can’t marry her.

Jessamyn follows Lucien and finds out what his secrets is. She tells him she can’t live with the lies. Lucien calls in his friends the Dukes to help him. True love wins in the end

Jessamyn thinks Lucien is the father of her pregnant sister's baby. She came across them in an amorous moment in the darkness of the garden during a ball. She sets out to blackmail him into marrying her sister by changing his terrible reputation into one of goodness. He's hiding behind his dark reputation so people can't get too close and find out his secret. He won't marry the sister, but he must make Jessamyn stop her campaign. Lucien falls hard for Jessamyn but she won't marry him with secrets and lies unresolved. My first thought was why would you want the guy passionately kissing your sister? Jessamyn is truly worried about her sister but is also an interfering busybody whose help no one wants. So not my favorite characters but still an enjoyable book and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

Good book. I liked the main characters and their dialogue. I enjoyed the storyline. A definite read!

This book is so close to perfect. I loved every minute. The characters were delightful. The storyline was amazing. Must have for historical romance lovers.

Seriously will always read an Anna Harrington novel because they’re just so easy to read. This one was no exception

This was such a delicious story on so many levels! It's a story of blackmail, a sister coming to the rescue of her sister and so many secrets. It kept you turning page after page to see what happened next. This was masterly crafted and who knew the blackmailer would fall in love with her victim. The more Jassamyn St. Claire dug into Lucien Grenier's business the more she discovered the real man under the mask he wore for society. I kept wondering how this story would work out all the impossibilities that were revealed but I should have known author Anna Harrington had a plan! You've got to read this book!!

Jessamyn St. Claire is riddled with guilt driving their alcoholic father from their home. She's determined to be there for her sister Amanda. Amanda finds herself in the family way and can't marry the father of her child. She tells her sister it was Lucien Grenier, Duke of Crewe because he's the blackest rake in London society. She deliberately sets him up so her sister could see a seduction that Amanda planned so she could pin it on him. In reality the father is a young agent for the East India Company about to be sent to India and unable to take a wife. Jess sets out to clean up Lucien's reputation by attributing good deeds publicly to Lucien behind his back. This is a problem as he has deliberately cultivated his black reputation.

Lucien Grenier is hiding his deceased father's many sins. His father with two other gentlemen ran just about any illegal scheme you could imagine with their criminal partner Josiah Horrender. Lucien and Devlin Raines ended the enterprises when their fathers died. They have kept the truth buried for years to keep their families safe. To keep others away from his secrets he pretends to be the worst scoundrel while secretly doing good deeds and making reparations to those who were hurt by his father. He frequents brothels' but in reality he's teaching the ladies to read, and he quietly donates to charity anonymously. Jessamyn is messing up things royally and he won't have it. They have a face to face and he denies being the father of Amanda's baby. The more they interact the more Lucien becomes fascinated and admires Jess. Eventually her sister tells Jess the truth. By this Lucien wants Jess for himself. Unfortunately Jess can't live with the idea of being a wife of a scoundrel for society. I love the extremes Lucien will go to, to make Jess his wife.

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

I very recently got into historical romances and let me tell you, this book was everything I expected it to be! I might just end up going back to read the previous book in the series (and maybe a few more from the author).

Lucien Grenier, Duke of Crewe is a proud wicked rake, at least that's what the world believes until rumors arise that he is donating to charities, making reforms, and even helping nuns?! He soon finds out that Jessamyn St Claire, the sister of one of the young debutantes he stole a kiss from at a ball, is the one at fault. And why you ask? Because she wants him to marry her sister! But slowly they fall in love with each other and all corrects itself.

Definitely a 3.5 for me, nonetheless I enjoyed the book.

I was really looking forward to Lucien’s story because I enjoyed his character in book 1 of the series. I do think that his story deserved a bit more. But nonetheless I loved him and Phillip. Jess could’ve used a kick or two in the butt. But it was all happily ever after in the end which was what I was going for in this situation.

This is the second book in the series and it was well paced. But Jess really wasn't the character I had hoped for Lucien to be with.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book given to me through NetGalley; all thoughts and opinions are my own

After the first book, I could not wait for Lucien’s story. There was a story there and I wanted to read it! I feel like Harrington does such a good job of writing mystery into her love stories. Lucien was a puzzle that I wanted to solve to find out his motivations and what exactly he is hiding.

Jess was a wonderful FMC that brought her own mysterious motivations to the story that I wasn’t expecting, but found interesting to unravel and discovered her to be the perfect complement for Lucien. I don’t want to give away any details, because I want readers to experience the unfolding for themselves.

Honestly, this whole series is really a hit for me. I love the fact that these dukes have history and reasons for living the way they do. The Duke of Deceit was a winner in all the ways with solid interesting characters, an unfolding plot line, the camaraderie with the deep friendship between the dukes I love, and the HEA love story with heat. I absolutely cannot wait for the next one!

This reverse ruination (un-ruination?) was a fun twist. Jess schemes against Lucien to improve his reputation so that he'll be worthy of marrying the sister she thinks he compromised. It was a little hard for me to get my head around the fact she was falling for a man she thought got her sister pregnant and then abandoned her, but over all, I liked the reverse ruination trope.

This is a most engaging read with wonderfully complex characters and clever banter. Lord Lucien portrays himself as a wicked and depraved character as sort of a smoke screen to protect his Downs Syndrome brother. Jessamyn, is also all about protecting a sibling as she seeks revenge on the Duke whom she believes ruined her sister. She seeks to gain him respectability in order to make him worthy to marry her sister. But as their relationship grows, and the sparks fly between them, it’s not her sister that he desires. This is such a well written and most enjoyable story!

Lucien The Duke of Crewe is a rake who has worked very hard at keeping his terrible reputation… well terrible. He doesn’t do anything unless it benefits him. Until her.

All Jessamyne wants to do is save her sister from her ruined reputation, a reputation that the Duke of Crewe ruined. She begins to unravel his precious reputation or lack thereof by giving money to the poor, taking care of orphans in his name. She does all of this so she can make him marry her sister so that she’s not ruined.

I enjoyed this book, and how Lucien and Jess finally admitted they loved each other. At times I was a bit annoyed by the fact that Jess kept trying to get Lucien to marry her sister even after she realized she loved him and that Lucien had nothing to do with her sister’s predicament but I still enjoyed the book.

This historical romance is technically book two in a series but can absolutely be read on its own. I hadn’t read the first book and felt like I wasn’t missing anything by diving into this book. I did enjoy the book enough that I’m curious about book one and plan on reading it at some point.

I love Anna Harrington´s stories so much!
Lucien Grenier, Duke of Crewe, prides himself on his reputation. Or, at least, that’s what he wants everyone to believe. What better way to keep society from discovering his secrets? But when rumors arise that he is doing good deeds for charities, children, reformers—even nuns—he has far more to lose than his wicked reputation; he might just lose his dukedom.
Jessamyn St Claire is determined to hit Lucien where it hurts most—his black reputation. Eight months ago, he ruined her sister, and now Jess wants retribution. Her plan? To take Lucien from rakehell to respected peer unless he marries her sister. But as Jess works to rehabilitate his character, she discovers that Lucien’s bad reputation is mere pretense. The more she ncovers, the more she learns of his goodness…and the more he captures her heart. Soon, it isn’t Amanda whom Lucien wants to marry but Jess.
OMG this book is so sweet and witty! It was soooo good! Anna’s books are all so beautiful and romantic and sexy! But also emotional and heartbroken. Both characters are strong and resilient, and the secondary characters are really well developed too. Great reading!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Jessamyn St Claire, you would have loved Deux Moi. In an attempt to force notorious blackguard Lucien Grenier into marrying her sister, she starts a series of public rumors of how...good he is. Little does she know, it's his wickedness that is the act. As these two spar, they realize they might be better for each other than anyone else.
There were a few pieces of this that felt a little overdone to me ( I guessed the sister's secret right away), but I loved the brother storyline and how tender these two are by the end. If you already like historical romance, this will scratch the itch and make you smile.

I would give this book a million stars if I could. I loved the way the main characters sparred against each other almost the entire time. Jessamyn will make sure that her sister is saved from ruin at all costs. She embarks on a quest to change the reputation of the Duke of Crewe (Lucien) from being a rake to being good. She plans to blackmail him into marrying her sister, but he won't go down without a fight. There are some great steamy scenes in this book. And then once Jess and Lucien tell each other the truth, and start to trust each, it becomes a real love story. There's also a very beautiful relationship between Lucien and his brother, who has Down's Syndrome. I couldn't recommend this book more.

Lucien Grenier, Duke of Crewe, is many things, he is the Duke of Disgrace, Deceit, and (light) Dirty-talk. He may be my new favorite historical book boyfriend, the entire character development and arc for this character was perfect. I loved how Lucien presented the world with a very carefully crafted image, but was actually an entire different person in order to protect someone who cannot protect themselves. Then there is Jessamyn St Claire, who will do anything to tear down Lucien's image in order to defend and save the future happiness of her younger sister. Having two characters that were motivated to protect someone else added a layer of complexity to the plot and really drew the readers. This was amazing read and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a historical romance with a strong plot and amazing chemistry between the main characters.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this eARC! I thought that this was a pretty basic historical novel with classic rake and heroine roles. I didn't really enjoy that aspect where it didn't seem like there was much depth with the characters and the relationship as well.

This book was everything i could of possibly asked for, definitely hot and steamy. Love the characters so much. Lucien and jess are a great couple.
Tropes: Enemies to lovers
Miscommunication
Spicy scenes
Was a historical setting!