This is excellent!

I felt an instant connection to Violet and Alistair; their romance was well paced, believable and exciting to r read about.
Alistair’s adventures as he tries to forge his own path in life (and his issues with alcohol) were also interesting to read about.
McGann was such a fun side character.

I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.

My only criticism is the use of historically anachronistic words like “okay” and “in sync”; it can take the reader out of the story.

This first book in The Mavericks series was a beautifully written second chance historical romance. It was fun and entertaining with complex, strong-willed characters, a love that could not be denied, and a delightful ending. I highly recommend reading!

I enjoyed this debut historical romance featuring an American heiress in London who wants to be a nurse, not a noblewoman, and a spare heir who joined the British Navy and the East India Company before getting the heck out of Dodge (he's 25, which seems both young and old?).

During his brief time between the Navy and EIC, Violet and Alistair met and had a brief encounter at a ball. Nothing physical, but the sexual tension was fire. Now she's back in London at the same time he is. While they're able to start a relationship, they both have angsty Reasons not to.

There are a lot of interesting things going on in this one, including some fraught family relationships on both sides and some real push and pull between the couple. The book embraces some HistRom conventions (she's not like other debutantes, and he's not like other noblemen!) while rejecting others (miscommunication trope: avoided!). I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I really enjoyed this debut from Kay Denner. The romance was fun and fast-paced, and I read it in a single weekend. I am already invested in the love stories of a half-dozen other characters! Kay Denner is one to watch in historical romance!

I love a good second chance romance, which is what this book promised. What I hadn’t expected was the writing: “He smelled of adventure”! or “The ridges of her fingertips hummed at his touch”. This is 2% in and I’m already having to collect my eyes from where they rolled to the floor. Then there was a moment when Alistair looked at Violet and it caused “some basic failure of her spine.”

Fortunately, past the first chapter the writing smoothed out into something less … that, and into something I found much more readable. While this book didn’t work for me the way I wanted, there are moments I want to point out: During their first sex scene, Alistair asks for and gains consent; during the second Violet panics and he draws instantly back, ready to end things if she’s changed her mind. When she asks if he has protection (a French Letter), he goes to fetch one. Using contraception, using words, being considerate of your partner, these are all things I enjoy seeing in a romance.

This is a fun little historical romance with entertaining characters, good chemistry, and Violet’s desire to become a nurse is skillfully interwoven into the story. However, this is far from a second change romance. It's just a romance.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am simple person. When I was browsing books and saw a focus on Regency Era medicine and maternal mortality, I was hooked. As the author notes at the end, maternal mortality continues to be a critical issue in the United States, and I am always up for my romance with a side of awareness raising.

Violet has no interest in marriage - she plans to use her skills as a nurse to help the less fortunate, while Alistair is planning to use his experience to open up a shipping company. Despite having insta-love, the two have to determine if their future plans are compatible enough.

I really enjoyed that the two main characters had a conflict that is still true to life today - determining whether they want the same things. My favourite part of the book was definitely Violet applying modern medical knowledge (I am the person who wishes Outlander was just all Claire seeing patients) and I loved the relationship between Violet and her cousin Catherine - which I suspect we will continue to learn more about in the next book.

This is the thinking woman's Bridgerton and I'd recommend to anyone who enjoyed Bridgerton or Outlander.

This book is not for me, though I’m sure others will enjoy it. To me, it seemed slow-paced with a dark tone. I found the way the MMC objectified the heroine to be offensive. DNF ~11%.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

4.5/5 Alistair and Violet shared a few minutes on a balcony before he left to captain a ship and she finished the season and returned to New York. When they meet again three years later, they’re different people. Life experiences have since pulled back the lenses of innocence and naivety. Violet is now focused on nursing as her future and Alistair can’t raise funding to start his shipping and trading business and leave England again fast enough.

I really enjoyed this debut story where the MC each have their owns dreams and the path to a HEA wasn’t smooth but worth it.

One of the plot points was the recurring reference to Alistair’s actions as a pendulum. The hot and cold doesn’t usually work for me, but it did here. He’s referred to as inconstant but his feelings for Violet never seemed to be in question. Sure, Alistair struggles with the order he should go about how to get his life on track and the feelings for Violet that resurface once they meet again. But it was one of the factors that kept me engaged in the story. I liked that Alistair didn’t come back from his time with East India Company with a fortune, that he’s still trying to make his own way. And it was messy and imperfect but it made the story more relatable and compelling.

I enjoyed Violet’s character. She’s a New York heiress and nurse and adjacent to the peerage from her aunt’s marriage. Violet uses the leeway all of this provides to pursue her dreams. She’s intelligent, strong, and independent; and is what attracts Alistair in the first place.

There is a lot going on in the story but I never felt frustrated or bogged down by it. The romance aspect was always part of the driving factor with the other goings on, keeping it balanced.

Again, Scoundrel is the author’s debut book and first in The Mavericks series. I’m looking forward to her future work.

It’s mid steam with two explicit open door encounters and a fade to black scene.

I received an advance reader copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The last time, American heiress, Violet Goodwin was in England, she met Lord Alistair Crawford on a dark terrace at a ball and almost shared a kiss with him, but their timing wasn’t right so they are just left with a memory of what could have been. Violet finishes her season without seeing him again and returns to America, thinking often of her scoundrel. But shortly after her return tragedy strikes and completely changes Violet’s future. After the death of her twin brother, Violet studies to become a nurse and has some success, enough that she decides that marriage is not her for her and focuses on her career. But fate has other plans for her, and she finds herself back in England to act as a companion to her cousin, Lady Catherine West. It is there that she is reunited with her scoundrel, but Violet is no longer a wide-eyed debutante, and she has no interest in renewing her flirtation with Alistair – at least that’s what she tells herself and anyone who will listen. But their paths keep crossing and denying her feelings is getting old, why can’t Alistair just make things easy for her; be a scoundrel, kiss her and leave? So, she can carry on with the life she has set for herself and stop wanting something she can never have?

Lord Alistair Crawford is the second son of the Marquess of Timsbury but has made his own way in life. He ran away from home at 15 and joined the Navy, then after 7 years, he left the Navy to join the East India Company with hopes of making his fortune. He met Violet on his last night in England before leaving for his post with the East India Company and as much as he wants her, he knows now is not the time and slips away, but he never forgets her. Three years later, Alistair is back in England, broke and disillusioned, without a true purpose, he is just throwing away his money on vice. But when Andrew McGann, an old friend, offers to make him a partner in a new shipping business in exchange for Alistair’s nobility connections to get him an introduction to an heiress, how can he say no? He agrees and then is dismayed to learn the heiress is none other than Violet. Will he be able to watch his friend woo the woman he wants for himself?

I have mixed feelings about this book, parts of it are great and other parts are a bit hard to believe. I liked Violet and Alistair, but they reminded me of the Katy Perry song Hot N Cold – they were both very mercurial and inconsistent. I also found Violet’s character completely unbelievable, because in less than 3 years, she studied medicine and becomes so knowledgeable that she is smarter than most doctors and is going to open her own hospital and add to that her constantly pointing out how irresponsible and inconsistent Alistair is, just made her a hard character to root for. She has a good heart, but seriously, Alistair nailed it when he said to her – “Pot and Kettle, Violet”. Overall, I enjoyed the book, I did think it was a bit too long and dragged in the middle, but it does have some very good characters, touches on issues like grief, women’s health, male domination and family dynamics, and it has some witty banter and spicy love scenes, so not a grand slam, but it does get on base. This book alludes to future installments, and I would definitely read Catherine and Andrew’s story!

NOTE: Be sure to check the content warnings before reading this book - there are scenes that might be triggering to some readers.

3.5 stars, rounded up

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Three years ago, American heiress Violet Goodwin shared a charged, “almost-kiss” with the dashing Captain Alistair Crawford. However, he soon disappears into the night, leaving Violet with only a distant memory. When they both return to London, life has changed them irrevocably. Violet is now a nurse, while Alistair has returned from his time with the East India Company disillusioned and nearly penniless. With a dream of launching his own trading company, he strikes a desperate bargain with a clever fellow captain to woo a wealthy heiress. The only problem is that the heiress is Violet. Soon both Violet and Alistair are questioning whether they can have a future together.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was very much lust at first sight. Violet and Alistair have trouble keeping their hand off each other right from the start. To the point where I wondered how we were going to get to a believable HEA.

Alistair is a dummy with no idea. And Violet is almost permanently frustrated by him.

That being said, Kay K Denner significantly developed their characters and the final stretch of this book was nail biting!

This is a solid debut and I look forward to the next in the series.

Alistair is back from his work with the East India Trade Company worse for wear and disillusioned. While he drowns his sorrows in drink, he’s also seeking out an opportunity to start his own trading company. When he runs into an old Scottish friend who strikes a bargain, help him find a rich aristo wife (one in particular) and the two can start their joint venture, he thinks his future is set. Problem is, the woman he’s interested in pursuing is the same one who left Alistair in a twist three years ago when they almost kissed on a balcony. But Violet isn’t the same woman he met, having lost her twin brother and turning to a life of medicine, she’s more interested in infectious diseases than she is marriage. Still, despite their changes, the two can’t help but gravitate toward each other.

Alistair & Violet
The pair were both so young when they met, and after only a few years apart they are so different from who they were before. Both have experienced life events that changed them. Honestly, that’s the thing I love most in second chance- the moments when they are trying to relearn each other again, and figure out if they are still meant to be, even if their puzzle pieces are shaped differently now. This book also featured so many great caretaking moments, and I specifically adored the moments when he assisted and gave her the space to be the rockstar nurse she is. He knows how to care for her and read her needs in ways even she can’t.

This was a sweet debut about two people rediscovering each other after a super hot meet-cute. They both have a noble mission (particularly our nurse heroine) and I enjoyed watching them navigate these duties with their desires. If you enjoy medical drama, this one's for you! There were times where I did get a bit squeamish, but that’s a me problem. I think the most exciting aspect of this book (and my favorite characters) were definitely both supporting besties for our mains- Catherine and McGann….who look like they may be next up in the series 😍

what a gorgeous historical moment in time. i felt like i could be sitting in a chateaux, in my library, China tea cup and reading this almost in one.
this story gives us a brave and strong woman in Violet. but she has a passed, one that makes her know her heart cant stand the thought of handing it over to anyone else. she is ahead in the times and quickly uses her smarts to gain knowledge and become a medical nurse. but not everyone is happy with how much knowledge or smarts she has. shes a woman after all. at this point she has promised to attend the season with her cousin. but what she didnt bargain for was Alastair. and he awakens things she definitely does not want awake. because Alastair and her know they have something. both know it. but their lives moved on from that shared night at a party.
Alastair himself only has his mission in mind. he's seen enough to know he doesnt want love. and just wants to focus on getting his own business up and running. but this is where Violet comes into his way. hes been told violet could be his path to success. but feelings dont go by the rules. and these two definitely have feelings.
there is so much to love about this novel. i was in awe of Violet and once we get to know the man underneath the emotional weight and spiraling Alastair was one hell of a man himself.
i gripping read with romance and heart woven all the way through. two brilliant characters to follow in both life and love makes this book total stars for me.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

2.5 rounded up to 3⭐️ mixed bag for me 😩

I wanted to love this book! The aristocratic ex-naval captain and the nurse seemed so promising! Unfortunately, it was constructed as a ‘second chance romance’ but the first chance isn’t a solid enough basis for the second imo. As a result it felt like the story took off without me really understanding WHY THESE TWO until about 80% of the way through.

I found the plot dragged in the middle and the sex scenes were a bit clunky. On the positive side, the last 20% of the book was genuinely excellent. I found I was starting to understand the characters as people, not caricatures and why they needed to be together. The author is talented and I hope to read more of their work in which that kind of delicious pace and chemistry finds itself at more like 30-40%.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Things that worked:
-Violet is amazing! The definition of competence porn, her smarts/medical knowledge and self assured calm in a crisis are so appealing. She takes no sh*t from Alistair, calls him on his inconsistency and mixed signals— as she should! She also doesn’t jump to conclusions, asks for clarification like an adult! An emotionally intelligent queen
-Alistair is a signature romance hero with daddy issues, clueless and confused about emotions but eventually a golden retriever content to bask in his wife’s glow. He is often veeery sexy in what he says to Violet, lots of shivers (complimentary).
-Relatedly, excellent chemistry. The writing in the intimate scenes is so well done, his yearning and her pleasure are so swoony and hot.
-Some top tier romance gestures- he hops on her carriage like a footman and rides all the way home with her (after he’s a doofus in public, wants to make it right but can’t until he fully understands why what he did was wrong. Don’t worry, he makes up for it later in a perfect way). She rides with him for 8 hours on horseback to save his brother from a fever!
-Not much can beat a quality sickbed scene, when the hero is faced with losing her and can’t handle it. Alistair glued to Violet’s bedside is *chef’s kiss*
-The end left me very excited for Catherine and McGann’s book!!

Things that didn’t:
-Alistair’s characterization left something to be desired. He’s too hot and cold, too abrupt. I just watched Ever After, and Alistair is like Henry, full steam ahead with his plans instead of asking about Violet’s then pouting petulantly when she doesn’t immediately acquiesce. I would have liked a bit more balance to the sulking in terms of his sailing prowess or leadership qualities (as a ship captain).
-Alistair’s self-medicating drinking and his daddy issues are too tidily resolved. The side plot with his brother also needed more fleshing out
-Similarly, Violet’s grief for her twin brother would have been more compelling if we had gotten to see more of their relationship, felt like a missed opportunity to give depth to her backstory.

Hard to rate this one bc I really did like it. 3.5 stars so I’ll round up to 4

3.25 stars ⭐️ This one was cute! The first 25% had me giggling and swooning—Violet and Alistair’s banter was everything. Alistair’s yearning? Top tier perfection. I’m absolutely obsessed with him. He is the definition of “if he could, he would.” 🥰 I never thought I would be into a caption but Alistair changed that for me — no doubt in my mind!!

The historical aspect of the book was really fun—Violet’s role in practicing medicine was great to read about, and the author’s focus on her struggles was beautifully written.

The middle did slow down quite a bit, and I hate to say, I lost a bit of interest (😬). Not a ton was happening—or at least, it felt like the same things were happening on repeat—and the plot twists were visible from a mile away — which, I actually didn’t have issue with! The plot was a fun one!

The last 10%? HOOKED. The payoff was there, and it totally redeemed the slower sections for me. No doubt I’ll be picking up Go, Rogue when it comes out!

4.5-ish stars, rounded up.

If you're a sucker for second-chance romance with a disillusioned hero trying so hard to get it right and a trail blazing heroine committed to her cause, Again, Scoundrel delivers.

Violet Goodwin is the kind of historical heroine I’ll never get tired of—smart, principled, and determined to save the world (or at least maternal healthcare in Victorian London). She’s not here for fluff or flirtation. She’s here to work. And her emotional armor is thick. But then in strolls Alistair Crawford—former naval officer, current rake with a rapidly crumbling façade. He’s nursing a boatload of guilt, trauma, and daddy issues, and to cope, he's been drinking, gambling, and making some truly poor life choices.

Enter: one “fake” courtship with ulterior motives, one emotionally loaded reunion, and a St. Giles clinic day that hits like a ton of emotional bricks.

The character growth is what makes this shine. Violet must learn that rigid plans and guilt-fueled missions aren’t the only path to healing. Alistair’s arc is even more poignant—he starts off untethered, but by the end, he’s choosing purpose, compassion, and love. The “I’ll change my entire future to support yours” energy from him? Immaculate.

Bonus points for the strong sense of place and time: the 1850s setting feels alive, and the medical backdrop adds richness. The stakes are personal, grounded, and deeply felt. Violet’s commitment to science and care is never diminished for romance—it’s part of the romance.

Also? Let’s hear it for rakes who grow. Alistair doesn’t just pine prettily—he works on himself, and his love for Violet is rooted in respect, understanding, and a need to be worthy of her.

This romance earns its HEA through emotional honesty and hard-won growth. I devoured it in a day and can't wait for book 2.

A riveting second chance romance, set in Victorian England, brings together an American heiress/nurse and a handsome British Naval officer -- again! Loved the setting, characters, and the hope engendered by this engaging histficrom tale. Enjoy!

Could not put it down and when I had to put it down, I couldn’t stop thinking about it! My review is on GoodReads, however, I will paste it here as well 😌

Absolutely obsessed over this book. I love the time period of the 19th century and that Violet was a strong, independent, intelligent woman who didn’t care about the opinion of others. Which was obviously rare and frowned upon. The chemistry between Violet and Alistair was impeccable. I love a good slow burn romance but with both of these characters having such incredible backgrounds, it only made me root for them even more! I definitely appreciated the trigger warnings in the beginning regarding child loss, as I feel like reading that part unexpectedly would have bothered me. The story overall was so beautiful and beautifully written. And I LOVE that the spicy scenes were tasteful! I would 1000% recommend this to my fellow book besties ❤️