This was a breath of fresh air for historical romance in a lot of ways. First, I appreciated that they humanized people from different social classes and the hero and heroine both worked advocating for people in poverty. Secondly, I appreciated the late 1800s setting. Don’t get me wrong, I love Regency romance, but the setting allowed interesting scientific and medicinal discoveries to be woven into the story.

I just love how fast moving this story was. You feel all emotions while reading it. I sure hope Kit gets her story. Well done.

This is a Victorian romance where our characters have a lot of barriers in the way of a happy ever after, the fact that the heroine is married being just one of them. If you have read any of the previous books from this series, you will recognise some of the characters, but that won't spoil this one.
There is a lot of adventure ahead for our hero and heroine. Some danger when one of them decides to ignore a warning. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Great fun

I really struggled with this book and finally gave up at about 60%. My issue was the style of prose; there was too much telling (instead of showing), and it affected both the narrative parts, which were heavy with inner monologue, and the dialogue parts, where the characters spoke to each other in a stilted, exposition-heavy manner. All of this made it hard for me to get immersed in the book and feel connected to the characters. On the upside, the book cover art is gorgeous, and I also liked Drew and Selena as people, and enjoyed some of the more colorful side characters, like Penny. (Note: I left a review without a rating on Goodreads.)

Another great read in the series. It can be read as a standalone book, but it is much more enjoyable if you have read the books before. In this book, we see the misery that so many had to live in in old London. I enjoyed how the heroine, despite being a duchess, recognised the desperation of the people and sought to help them, all while healing from the cruel treatment she had endured at the hands of her husband and father. The romance was sweet, but there were some sex scenes that this reviewer skipped. I am now looking forward to the next in the series. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

This book was very good and kept me turning pages. There was always something happening. It reminded me of another series of books I read. If you like Victorian romance, definitely give this book a try.

If you have read the previous books in this series then you have already been introduced to the characters taking center stage here. Getting to know Drew in the previous books made it easy to root for him as the hero in this book. Selena was a bit more of a mystery since she only made a brief appearance in the first book. This ended up working out really well because it put me onto familiar ground but still left room to learn something new about the characters. The only part of the story that did not completely work for me was Selena's alter ego. I know she went through a lot in her life, especially with her marriage, but I do not see how a woman raised in a wealthy family and somewhat sheltered environment was able to locate families in need and know how to navigate (and survive) in the type of environment Selena found herself. This book also had some in common with book 1 in that the couple met while the woman was still married. At least in this book you weren't waiting for a perfectly healthy man to die so the couple could be together. Instead, we were just waiting for a horrible person to finally succumb to his illness. The part of the story that left me excited for more was the subplot involving Selena's sister and Lucian - there is a hint in the epilogue that we will get to know their story so I am very much looking forward to that.

Selena Seaton, Duchess of Barnesdale, disappeared after overhearing her husband's plan to commit her to an asylum. Taking the identity of The Golden Angel, she helps the poor the in Devil's Acre. Another illegitimate son of the late Duke of Cellenham, Doctor Drew Horsby can't forget the duchess and is worried for her safety. Crossing paths again and again, he offers her assistance. Falling in love with a married duchess was unexpected, but he will protect her at any cost.
An interesting series of the bastard sons of a duke who seduced young women for a nefarious purpose. Interactive characters from the previous books. I recommend reading in order.
Descriptive sex and violence.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Unequivocally a great read.

This book packs a punch. Set right before the turn of the century, in the Devil's Acres in London, Doctor Drew Hornsby (whom we've met in the previous books in the series) is the good doctor with a heart of gold. He briefly meets Selena Seaton Woodhouse, a married duchess, after her husband abused her, Her husband wanted to commit her.

Selena is a fighter, clever, brave, an Angel who is helping those in the poorest parts of London. She is the match for Drew, the doctor who works with charity cases and is fighting the good fight. Selena stirs Drew and he is fiercely protective of her.

I really like this series and this book just delivers on all levels.
Well written and engaging with a tough twist. Selena is already married. To a duke. She is also on the S list for the local boss of Devil's Acres.
Recommend.

Drew is one of the sons of a deceased duke with no moral compass. As a doctor, Drew is both honorable and has a strong moral fiber, so when he is called on to help a duchess, Selena, who has been beaten, he has issues with it. Selena on the other hand, has had enough of her marriage and disappears. A lovely series that includes some of the other sons and their wives. Has a few moments that drag a bit, yet overall a very good story. Has some twists and turns. Can't wait to see what happens with Selena's sister and the rookery boss.

Having met Doctor Drew Hornsby in his search for Selena in previous novels in this series, it was inevitable that at some point he is going to run into her in the rookery. Selena escaped her vicious husband, but she has unfortunately come to the notice of the slum lord as she is interfering with his business. Fortunately, when she needs him most, Drew comes to the rescue, and although she is still married, he knows to be patient as their time will come. It was interesting to read about the advances in medicine and technology from the previous era, as well as the shift in social norms. I was also sad that one man's greed caused so much suffering, and it was as well that Selena had Drew's backing. The novel comes to a successful conclusion, bringing the brothers and their wives into a closer relationship and the discovery of yet another. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

This book was a 2.5 stars for me. The premise was good but the execution was a definite miss. Too wordy and descriptive,the book ended being more of the tell and less of the show. The emotional and character development was also not too deep which made getting into the romance a little too hard.

#TheDukeandtheDoctor #NetGalley

Pretty much what it says on the tin: Dr Drew Hornsby is called by Barnsdale, Lady Selena's husband, after "a fall down the stairs" warrants a physician's attention. Barnsdale actually wants to have his wife committed to an asylum, basically because he can't stand the sight of her. Dr Hornsby has more ethical standards than that and refuses to sign off on such a thing; he also realizes that this supposed fall was more likely the case of physical violence, courtesy of said husband. He quietly tells Selena what her husband is up to and gives her his card, telling her to contact him at any point if she wants his help.

Six months later, a Golden Angel has shown up in the Devil's Acre and is providing charity to a select few families. She's managed to find herself in the crosshairs of the local crime boss, Lucian Sharpe, because her assistance is causing some of the petty thieves working under him to flee and thus, is impacting his bottom line. The Angel is careful to hide herself in a variety of disguises, including her telltale strawberry-blonde hair. She's caused quite a stir, among both the lower classes and the gossips of Society.

Selena finds her charity work as the Golden Angel therapeutic. She ran away from her husband after he became ill, and has been helping the less fortunate as a way of finding meaning in her life. She knows Barnsdale is soon to die, and is undecided what she will do. Will she return? Will she continue hiding in the slums? And what of that handsome doctor who examined her and gave her his card? She's never contacted him, but thinks of him and his kindness often.

Meanwhile, Drew is carrying on his medical practice, which takes him far and wide, from Society to the slums and back again. He's filling his days with work because he can't stop thinking about the beautiful, haunted Selena, and wondering about her disappearance. Soon enough, their paths cross again, and after they both basically recover from their shock, they start circling each other.

Drew, now a baronet due to his services in medicine, has been roped into the role of physician on retainer to Barnsdale, who is quickly succumbing to his terminal illness. He is able to funnel news about him to Selena, and finds himself nursing her through a terrible bout of bronchitis, caught from one of her charity families. He, too, is inclined to help people as much as he can, and he uses his network of contract to assist the families he cares for.

As it happens, he is one of the many bastard children sired by a horrendously evil duke, and his network includes newfound siblings (the heroes of the previous novels in this series). <spoiler>He also suspects that Lucien Sharpe may be one of them, which - considering the bounty he's put on the Golden Angel's head - does not exactly sit well with him.</spoiler> Drew fell in love with Selena at first sight, and being near her again is only stoking those feelings. He vows to do everything he can to protect her - not only from any funny business by her vengeful, dying husband, but also from the dangerous Lucien Sharpe.

This is an imminently readable novel. This author is a veteran of the genre, and she works with her characters and setting very commendably. It's even something of a throwback to the mid-2000s, when it seemed like every series contained either a large family of siblings or a group of friends, each of whom find love one after the other. <spoiler>Here, we have both: the Duke's bastards are half-siblings and heroes of all these books; the heroines are all school friends who called themselves the Bluebells in school.</spoiler>

I deducted stars for two reasons:

1) This is basically all tell and very little show. We are told what the characters are feeling, but none of it actually feels authentic. <spoiler>For example, Selena is ready to climb Drew like a tree while her husband is on his deathbed, and she does not even care. She will not go into mourning for him, she will not miss him, and she would marry Drew in a second if she still could. All of this after basically knowing him for a month. Her lady's maid even points out how quickly things are going between them - they do not hide their feelings from <i>anyone</i> - but they are basically, "Why should we wait?" and she admits she has no good reason. This just does not fit into the Victorian era *at all*, and it really rankled me. Not only did I not believe these characters felt anything more than lust for each other, but what is the point of making your heroine a Duchess, hemmed in by Society all her life, if she's just going to thumb her nose at it - with no consequences? Make it make sense!</spoiler> There is also a lot of modern conversation going on that just doesn't fit the times - a lot of what's now called therapy talk, and complete leaps and bounds in medicine, apparently.

2) There is absolutely no urgency or suspense, at any point. A conflict arises, and one conversation is enough to quell it. People act in various ways simply to service the plot. <spoiler>Lucien is not a threat to anyone, ever, and Selena and Barnsdale bury the hatchet after ONE conversation. Ten years of resentment and hatred, and you're telling me one conversation is enough to completely turn the tide of those feelings??</spoiler> The third act is spiced up with a kidnapping, but it is due entirely to the heroine's TSTL stubbornness. So if you're looking for a lot of drama or angst, you will not find it here.

The universe is very small, even beyond this series - the hero here is the son of the hero from [book:The Vicar's Frozen Heart|25937712], and characters from the Men of Wollstonecraft Hall series also have cameos. I'm sure there are other ties to other series as well. This can either feel like a wink to loyal readers, or it can feel claustrophobic. I fell somewhere in between.

So, while readable, with interesting if shallowly-portrayed leads and a few moments that prove this author can write emotional scenes, this was, sadly, a fairly middle of the road read for me. I have an older novel by this author on Mount TBR, and it will remain there. I'm curious to read the other books in this series, and wish they were outside the walled garden of KU.

The recent discovery that he is the illegitimate son of an infamous duke has turned Doctor Drew Hornsby’s life upside down. Adopted at age ten by Viscount Hawkestone, Drew left his impoverished life behind, but he never forgot his roots. Now, as a physician, the memory of his late mother drives him to assist those in need. Selena Seaton Woodhouse, the Duchess of Barnsdale, an arranged marriage to an older duke, after years of dealing with her husband’s cruelty, she runs away and becomes The Golden Angel, a mysterious lady who helps those less fortunate in London’s most notorious slum. When Selena’s charitable works run afoul of the local rookery boss, the spectacled, self-contained doctor turns into a ferocious protector. And as the danger heightens, so does their mutual passion.
The third book in the series, it could be read on its own but the author has built a wonderful world where characters from her world do make appearances. I loved both Drew & Selena, both loved helping those less fortunate themselves & both were very attracted to each other but for most of the book she’s still married.
The author paints a vivid picture of London in the late nineteenth century & the struggles facing the poor. I liked the chemistry between Drew & Selena which grew hotter & hotter. A well written slow burn romance, with strong characters & a well paced story
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

Dr Drew has been more fortunate than most of his illegitimate half siblings.
He was adopted, educated, and financially supported.
Now he spends his time helping others in free clinics and trying to find the rest of the siblings to emotionally support them.
He is called to a Duke’s house, meets Selena the Duchess for the first time and he cannot forget her.
Selena runs away and tries helping those less fortunate. They encounter each other again and feelings develop despite her marriage.
An unforgettable storyline of siblings trying to come to grips with their circumstances.
A love story against many odds.
.

The Doctor and the Duchess in the third book in The Duke's Bastards series. It can be a stand-alone read, but many of the characters carry over from the previous two books.

Doctor Drew Hornsby is the newest sone to discover his disgraceful parentage. Making his way in life as an upstanding doctor, he is called to visit the Duke of Barnsdale. His wife the duchess is not well and should be committed as far as the duke is concerned. But when Dr. Hornsby meets the duchess, he sees a woman who has been cruelly treated and is in pain. He refuses to have her committed but leaves her his card should she need him in the future. He discovers she disappears from the duke's home.

In an effort to save herself the Duchess becomes the 'Golden Angel' a mysterious lady whose goal is to help the people who need her help. But her reputation for helping others puts her in danger. Doctor Hornsby is never far from her thoughts. Will he be the one who helps her escape her old life for a new one.

This was an interesting story. The premise was unique and something I looked forward to, but the spark was missing from this story. I found it hard to care about the characters. I found myself being more interested in Selena's sister Kit's story which I believe might be next.

A medical romance is, admittedly, not something I ever thought I’d read. Drew and Selena captivated me from page one, and their journey to happily ever after is blissfully sweet, with just a touch of suspenseful danger thrown in for good measure. So heartwarming.

This was a well-plotted and well-researched novel, and the author’s passion for the topics discussed in the novel shone through. A lot of historical romances have characters that feel very modern, but this book managed to have characters that felt properly placed in their era without being prejudiced or flat.

I thought the book mostly suffered from excessive exposition. Nearly everything is learned through long dialogue instead of description, and I felt like the characters were telling me about their actions and motivations more than I got to see those in action. That made it difficult to connect with the characters, even though the story was compelling.

Thank you NetGalley. This is the second book in a series. Dr. Drew Hornsby is called to the home of Duke and Duchess Barnsdale. The Duchess has taken a fall (her husband has hit her) and the Duke wants to be sure she is ok. Drew is drawn to her right away but can't do anything about it since she is married. He notices the Duke does not look well but he won't be examined. Selena makes plans and she with her maid, Penny leave one night. The have rented a small apartment under another name. She is helping the poor with food and what she can. In the meantime Drew and his brother are trying to find the other bastards from the same duke as they came from to help each other. He was fortunate to be adopted by the Hornsby family and able to get an education. He is called to take care of the duke but really too late to do more than take care of his pain. Selena and Drew find each other, she goes back to the duke until he dies.

A warning from Dr. Drew Hornsby that her husband is scheming to have her committed to an asylum, gives Selena the strength to run away. Helping others less fortunate than herself gives some purpose to her life but it is meeting Drew again that brings emotions that she thought were long dead to life.
This is a slow burn romance between Drew and Selena with both of them conscious of her marital status and reputation. As the characters from the first two books in the series feature quite a lot, you will probably connect more with this story if you have read them first. Note: widows, particularly those of a higher class, did not attend the funeral of their spouse in Victorian England.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.I