This is the third book in this series and it is one of the best Kelly Bowen has written so far. I love the characters, the plot and the setting. There’s so much happening in this story, that I came to the end and thought, no way! How can it be over already?!

I believe that the adventure within made this story twice as exciting for me, bit it’s the characters of Lady Angelique Archer and Alexander Lavoie that drove this story to its zenith. Those two characters were complex and well matched to each other.

If you’re looking for a story that’s fast paced, with plenty of perils for our leads, and a bit of mystery, then this story will truly make you happy.

Melanie for b2b

The dynamic opening chapter sets the pace for this outstanding story. It starts out with an air of intrigue, quickly moves to self-preservation and then a challenge by a very sexy man. All elements that will keep a reader mesmerized with the story. This is a read that you get so wrapped up in that you lose track of time.

The plot is well thought out and executed while the two main characters Angelique and Lavoie are developed in such a manner that the reader will cheer for both of them to win and come to an agreement that makes the reader shout for joy.

Angelique is a women who is very advanced for the era she lived in. I decided immediately if I could be anyone I would want to be her because she was so smart with numbers and she has a strong moral fiber. On the other hand Lavoie was much more then he appeared and the perfect man to deal with and understand Angelique.

I give this 5 STARS for how it deals with Angelique's personality and family problems.

London - 1820

Lady Angelique Archer is playing cards at an exclusive gambling place called Lavoie’s where the women wear masks to protect their identity. Angelique has played here before and tonight she has won a substantial amount. As she gather her winnings, the man who lost grows angry and grabs her arm threatening and mauling her. The owner, Alexander (Alex) Lavoie steps in and rescues her taking her into his office. There, he offers her a job working a vingt-et-un table for the house.

Angelique has always had a good head for math and the ability to count cards. She is responsible for paying to keep her sibling twin brothers in school. She is also desperately trying to get her brother Gerald, the Marquess of Hutton, to sober up and take on his duties. When their father died, they were left nearly penniless as their fortune had somehow vanished. With all of these problems hanging over her, Angelique knows she needs to use her talents to make money so she accepts Alex’s offer.

Alex is a long time partner of Chegarre and Associates whose primary purpose is to make scandals disappear. When Angelique’s brother, Gerald, ends up arrested and thrown into prison for murder, Alex steps in and along with the help of Chegarre, they seek to find out who the real murderer is and what happened to the fortune of the Archer family.

This is a good book full of adventure that takes the reader from the elaborate accoutrements of the beautiful gambling hell of Lavoie’s to the nasty prison area of The Tower. I enjoyed the story and I hope that other readers will as well.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Love these two. Angelique is the responsible one in her family. And her family secrets will have you reel. Her brother does grow up and that is great to see. These two are betrayed in so many ways by so many around them but no matter what they are there for each other and show us what family is. Alexander is swoony, devilish and just all around great. He sees Angelique in his club hustling members and this gains his respect. He is attracted to her and wants to know her.

The beginning doesn’t start out well. She is hiding herself and he is intrigued. She fears him because of his reputation but the attraction is through the roof and she needs the job and he is pushing to learn more. As they learn about each other and begin to trust each other more, they start to let the walls down. We see two people who want to have someone understand them and love them. To support them and respect them. They do that for each other even when they are mired in the craziness of all going around them. Especially Angelique’s life. We get a mystery when her brother is in trouble and this is when we see Alexander there for her. He helps her and her brother. He is there to protect, love, support and be a shoulder. He guides her and helps reveal all that is going on around them. They learn some jaw dropping secrets and he is there for Angelique and proves time and time again his feelings and how loyal and caring he is. Even if others see him as a sexy scoundral.

A sexy, roguish man falls in love with a intelligent kind family woman is our journey. A journey that gives us romance, mystery, thrills and secrets. Shows Alexander’s vulnerabilities and tenderness. Angelique’s intelligence and love for family. We get some really hot times and some tender moments but no matter what their story of falling in love is adventurous and intriguing.

Oh, Kelly Bowen, how I love thee. Just when I was feeling apathetic about historical romance, you write another gem - Between the Devil and the Duke. It is the third book in her Season for Scandal series and every installment has been thoroughly enjoyable and original. Her heroines are strong, smart and determined, and they can always hold their own. They are women we can aspire to be like, and her heroes are pretty awesome too.

Lady Angelique Archer’s father recently died in a carriage accident leaving her and her three brothers in financial trouble. Her eldest brother is only making the situation worse; therefore, she’s determined to somehow solve this dilemma. She decides to play cards.

Alexander Lavoie owns a gambling hell and is a secret partner in Chagarre and Associates - a firm that “takes cares of problems.” He’s a master manipulator who discovers secrets and uses them to his benefit. He’s experienced, charming, sexy and even rumored to have been a spy and an assassin. He discovers Angelique at his club and is very intrigued. He sets out to discover why she's there, and when he realizes she's not there for entertainment, he offers her a job.

Alex is definitely captivated by Angelique, and they are both very attracted to each other. Angelique is wary of men, but Alex proves he’s not like her father or lame brother. They make a strong team, and are delightful together. This is a well-written book with an original story, interesting characters and a wonderful love story. Between the Devil and the Duke is a very romantic romance and has restored my faith in the genre.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written.

It's been far too long since I've read a historical romance book. Kelly Bowen's Between the Devil and the Duke was a great way to break that trend. This was such a delightful read promising both romance and mystery and it lives up to it in a big way.

The story has a really great flow to it. Immediately we are drawn into Angelique Archers world as a well born lady whose discovered she and her brother don't inherit much more than their home. There's no cash to live of of so she takes to playing card games and working to win large sums of money, all while she hides her face under a mask. When club owner Alexander Lavoie decides he needs to investigate her, she finds herself in luck and he finds himself drawn into some old and new circumstances that make up Angelique's life.

Angel and Alex have an immediate spar and Bowen uses this well as she crafts a great mystery where Angelique's brother finds himself in really serious trouble and locked in the tower of London. As Alex is a lawyer, he comes to Angelique's aid. What follows is the two working through the riddle as to who and why they would set her brother up. Through this they uncover a shocking family secret and a deep attraction for each other.

I found Bowen's prose magical. The dialogue is clever and the banter between Alexander and Angelique is smart and flirty and highlights just how well suited they are. There are a few passages that brought tears to my eyes, I felt a lump in my throat and breathed heavy sighs of contentment.

“There is nowhere else I want to be,” she whispered. “There is nowhere else I belong.” ~ Angelique

This is just one of those times I am so glad I took a risk on a new to me author, especially in a genre where I have firm favorites. 4.5 stars and recommendation!

Kelly Bowen is one of the best of the bunch of new authors of historical romance to have emerged in the last couple of years, and she continues to show herself more than deserving of the praise her novels have received. I’ve reviewed a few and rated them highly, impressed by her ability to craft strong plotlines and characters, and to imbue her dialogue with unforced humour and realism. Best of all, she writes a strong, well-developed romance that sizzles with sexual tension while also showing the protagonists becoming emotionally intimate. Her current Season for Scandal series makes use of an unusual premise, and, in the last two books (Duke of My Heart and A Duke to Remember) she’s allowed her heroines to positively shine as independent, intelligent women who make their own rules while continuing to live within the bounds set by society. Not for Ms. Bowen the curl-tossing, foot-stamping, annoying “feisty” heroine; no, her ladies are clever, pragmatic, determined, and – when called for – devious; qualities which make them irresistibly attractive to their heroes, men who are secure enough in their masculinity to be able to appreciate their unique talents.

In Between the Devil and the Duke, the third book in the series, we meet Lady Angelique Archer, a young woman carrying the weight of her family’s responsibilities on her slim shoulders. Her father, the Marquess of Hutton, died recently in a carriage accident, but left very little money to his four children; and her older brother, the new marquess, is very quickly spending what little there is on drink, women, gambling and dodgy investments. Angelique is at her wit’s end. Her younger twin brothers risk being kicked out of Harrow if she can’t find the money to pay their fees; the household bills are mounting and she has already sold everything of value that isn’t nailed down. Her brother shows no sign of relinquishing his dissolute – and expensive – lifestyle, so it’s up to her to find a solution. While she’s very beautiful, Angelique never “took” during her one season, acquiring herself a reputation as The Marble Maiden owing to her inability to dance or make small talk or display any of the accomplishments required of a débutante. So given that reputation and that her current state of impoverishment is unlikely to remain a secret for long, marrying money is not an option. Not that she wants to sell herself off to the highest bidder anyway. An almost-betrothal to one of her brother’s closest friends, was a near escape and it’s one she has no wish to repeat.

We met Alexander Lavoie in Duke of My Heart, and learned that he is a partner in Chagarre and Associates, the business run by Ivory Moore (now Duchess of Alderidge), which is one of the best kept secrets in London. The firm specialises in fixing the seemingly disastrous and making scandal disappear, and is discreet, efficient and very expensive. Alex is also the proprietor of a highly successful gaming establishment, and thus very well placed to learn the sorts of secrets in which the firm trades. Rumoured to have been both a spy and an assassin, he is charming, clever, manipulative, and dangerously sexy – but completely unprepared for the sudden fascination he experiences for the anonymous woman playing quietly at the vingt-et-un table who wins a lot more than she loses.

She hasn’t gone unnoticed by him on her previous visits, but on this particular night, she is on the receiving end of some unwelcome attention from one of the men at her table, so Alex steps in to politely but firmly encourage him to desist. Alex is already curious about her – she obviously knows what she’s doing at the card table, but isn’t blatant about it; she loses small amounts, wins large ones and knows how to use her physical assets to distract a man and put him off his game.

When Alex realises that behind Angelique’s lovely exterior lies a brilliant mathematical mind, he offers her a job. He can tell that she’s not at his club for fun or to indulge in the thrill of the forbidden; she needs the money, but he doesn’t know why, and is determined to ferret out the truth. He knows a woman in trouble when he sees one; and when he encounters her brother and two of his inebriated friends, he begins to have an inkling of its source.

The story that follows is well-plotted and nicely paced, as Alex and Angelique – with the help of Ivory and Max – start to piece together the truth concerning the late marquess’ finances, uncovering a trail of smuggling, blackmail and murder. It’s an intriguing and thoroughly entertaining story, and I was completely caught up in it and anxious to know what was going to happen next.

The romance is very well done, too. The sparks fly between Angelique and Alex right from the start; the tension between them at their first meeting is thick enough to be cut with a knife and the connection between them is intense. I love a smitten hero in a romance, and there’s no doubt that Alex is well and truly bowled over by Angelique – but what I loved even more is that while he’s undoubtedly physically attracted to her, he’s just as wowed by her mental acuity. Following on from his offer of employment, Angelique presents him with a proposal as to how she can maximise the profits from her vingt-et-un table – and for Alex, it’s a real coup de foudre; he is “rather afraid he had just fallen in love.”

Angelique is just as strongly attracted to Alex, although her experience with the men in her life who were supposed to look after her and didn’t – her father, her brother – makes her understandably cautious about trusting anyone but herself. She tries to keep Alex out, but his kindness and his persistence gradually break down her barriers until she realises she can trust him absolutely. They are a very well-matched couple, not just mentally, but in the way they are able to provide something the other has been missing. Alex encourages Angelique to be herself in a way that nobody else ever has and I really enjoyed watching her self-confidence blossom as the result of his love and acceptance; and Alex, who has preferred to remain aloof and never shared much of himself with anyone, finds the sort of contentment with Angelique that he’d never expected to feel.

Between the Devil and the Duke is a really enjoyable story, and I loved every minute of it. The story is engrossing, the characterisation is excellent and the love scenes are sensual and romantic. Kelly Bowen has further cemented her place as one of the best of the historical romance authors currently writing, and I’m eagerly looking forward to her next book.

This is book three in the Season For Scandal series and I admit I haven't read the other books in the series, heck I had never read any books by Kelly Bowen before but let me tell you, I will be buying the previous books and whatever else Kelly has written because boy did I enjoy this book .

I read this book in one evening/night because I just this book was so good that I couldn't put it down.

This book is so very well written and there is plenty of chemistry and it was a quick read just because I couldn't stop reading.

If you are in the mood for a historical romance, I do highly recommend this book.

I give this 5 out of 5 stars.

If you've the other books in this series, you'll be familiar with some of the characters in this story. However, if this is your first, you'll be fine because it works well as a standalone. I really enjoyed the character's plot arcs and witty dialogue and I think anyone who enjoys historical romance will too!

Angelique Archer had found herself going more and more outside the lines respectable young women were supposed to stay within. The situation was desperate for her family, though, which meant she didn't really care. She'd given up on ever having her own happily ever after, but she was determined to take care of her family-friendly even her wastrel brother who was quickly losing what little fortune remained in the family coffers.

How could she stop him?

Alexander Lavoie had noticed the beautiful young woman so strikingly out of place in his gaming establishment. She wasn't there to socialize with the drunken gamblers or to sample any of the luxurious foods, liquor or exotic sweets. She was there on business, especially at the vingt-et-un tables. His curiosity was getting the best of him, so he set out to investigate both who she was and why she was there.

I've read tropes like this before and have always enjoyed them. Kelly Bowen is wonderfully descriptive about both the characters and the story they're living. For Alex, helping this intriguing woman out was important. For Angelique, keeping her identity a secret was a must. When these two collide, sparks fly.

They say lucky at cards, unlucky at love. Will this hold true in this tempting story of a desperate debutante and an unscrupulous club owner with an outrageous reputation?

I bet you'll love this story. I certainly did! Thanks

Angelique Archer never quite took during her first season. Because of her unwillingness to dance (which she did poorly) and her inability to make small talk, she soon became known as the Marble Maiden. She left society to take care of her dying mother, and never rejoined society as her father died not long after. With her family fortune seemingly vanished into thin air, and her wastrel brother continuing to spend extravagantly, Angelique has to take desperate steps. There is a gambling club, Lavoie's, which allows women to wager. The female gamblers wear masks in order to hide their identities and protect their reputations. Angelique is determined to keep her family losses a secret and to win enough funds to provide for what remains of her household, and to keep her younger brothers in school. You see, Angelique is a genius with numbers - she is able to memorize cards which have been played and accurately calculate odds. She cleverly intersperses small losses among her winnings, and tries to remain as unobtrusive as possible. She has, however, come to the notice of the club's owner.

Alexander Lavoie makes certain that he is aware of all that happens in his club. He notices everything about the beautiful woman who comes to gamble - he knows that she doesn't cheat, he knows that she's trying to stay inconspicuous, he knows that she's brilliant, but he doesn't know who she is. When a drunk accosts Angelique, Alex steps in to defuse the situation, anxious to interact with the intriguing mystery woman. As luck would have it, Angelique's intoxicated brother shows up, creates havoc, and allows Alex to discover her identity. He realizes that Angelique is not gambling for the thrill, but that she's in desperate need of the money. Alex offers her a job in his club because he feels that would be very lucrative, but also because he wants to further his acquaintance. While Angelique initially refuses, her brother's actions cause yet a more serious financial loss, and she accepts the job at Lavoie's as a masked dealer.

From the beginning, Alex and Angelique (whom he eventually calls "Angel") have an intense physical awareness of each other, which they both intend to ignore. But aside from the attraction, they discover another connection, a mental one, as well as genuine liking and admiration. Alex is not intimidated by Angel's extreme intelligence and abilities, rather he appreciates them. And Angel looks beyond Alex's reputation of being a spy and assassin to see the honorable, kind and caring man underneath. I have to say that I fell in love with Alex - what a fantastic hero he is. Almost from the beginning, he knew he was smitten and he admitted it. He never hesitated to do what he had to do to help Angel. I never thought I'd get the shivers from just hearing a man say, "Mmmm," but Alex has that effect on me. As for Angel, she never looked down on Alex or his connections, though she's the daughter of a marquess. She's strong, determined, and a worthy match for him.

As Alex and Angel's affair heats up, the investigation into the missing Archer family fortune leads to a twisted story of family secrets, betrayals, and revenge. I can't speak highly enough of Kelly Bowen's fantastic writing. She is rapidly becoming a favorite author, with her likable, intelligent protagonists and exciting storylines. BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DUKE had it all for me - sizzling passion, genuine romance, great characters, and a captivating story. The whole Season for Scandal series has been a winner, one which I give my highest recommendation.

Romance. Mystery. Comedy.

Between the Devil and the Duke is enthralling.

I absolutely adored this third book in Kelly Bowen’s A Season for Scandal series. I just hope it’s not the last. While I don’t love the detailed steam I have to admit skimming those few pages is totally worth being able to share an evening in Ms Bowen’s words.

I just can’t say enough about Between the Devil and the Duke. Honestly, Lady Angelique Archer is going down as one of my favorite characters ever. I totally loved her personality and had to frequently remind myself that she’s fictional!

Desperation makes her brazen. Curiosity forces him to be bold. Kelly Bowen is not the first author to write a story with heroine like Angelique. Angelique is smart, brash and creative but she's also broke. Her brains are the catalyst that leads responsible into tempting when she crosses paths with mysterious bad boy Alex. A walking contradiction, Alex is sexy, intriguing, wealthy with a wicked edge and a sensitive heart and smart mind. An offer she can't refuse and a risk he can't pass up lands them right in the center of drama, betrayal, danger and romance that could be the beginning of something beautiful or end in tragedy. Ms. Bowen has the panache to deliver stories that are exciting, that balance humor with danger and sensuality. I have yet to experience a heroine I didn't like and the heroes aren't bad either. Between the Devil and the Duke is a culmination of suspense, lust and what every good story needs escapism and Kelly Bowen delivered.

I have come across Ms. Bowen’s books before, but have been hesitant to buy. This book, Between the Devil and the Duke, made me go out and buy the first in the series.

In this story we find Angelique at Alex’s club, playing cards and hoping to win to be able to pay the debts that she and her brothers are currently facing. She has three brothers, one of them holding the family’s title and a set of twin brothers that are currently in boarding school. The family is currently behind in the school’s tuition as well as trying to make ends meet. The winnings would help pay some of what is due and keep them afloat. But her brother is not helping, and instead drowning in alcohol and spending away what little they have left. He quickly finds himself framed for a murder that he did not commit.

After obtaining employment from Alex, by becoming one of his table dealers, Angelique seeks his assistance to help find who is behind the framing of her brother. They quickly start trying to start putting the pieces together that has led Angelique and her brothers to their current ruin. Lifting the veil behind the mysteries of why her farther slowly sold away their fortune to silence threats.

The dance that Alex and Angelique find themselves is absorbing. There is an undeniable sexual tension between these two, and a very strong attraction. I enjoyed seeing them come together and learning to trust each other with their secrets.

I was pretty surprised how the mystery was revealed in the end. I certainly did not see it coming was surprised to see a new story line to end a mystery. It was thoroughly a very enjoyable read!

Angelique's life has turned her from a pampered Lady of wealth to a masked card counting lady trying to keep the bill collectors at bay.
Alex has been a farmer soldier fighting for his homeland to now the owner of the wealthiest gaming hell in London.
They both have their secrets but the spark and burn between them won't be denied. Lies, betrayals, money, and sex, Angelique and Alex stand in the eye of it all.
 
Though Angelique didn't consider herself daring. She was simply desperate.
 
Third in the Season for Scandal series, this could be read as a standalone but a solid understanding of how secondary characters fit and of Alex's background would be slightly missed if done so. However, the romance and relationship between Angelique and Alex begins right here. Rarely, do I begin a review with talk of a secondary character but Angelique's brother brought out such a visceral reaction from me I can't help but start with a warning to be prepared to want to commit murder. It's a testament to the author's ability to write a character that brings out such a reaction but there was a moment when I thought Angelique's brother was possibly dumbed-down too much in favor of raising Angelique's pedestal.
 
You'll feel for Angelique, for her helplessness and her spine. She's a math genius that due to the time period must find creative ways to use her talents in hopes of making money for her family. Alex was our sexy, strong, and heroine enabling hero who had a fascinating background that was fully sketched out but I personally felt didn't get to visit enough. Considering his sister was the heroine of the previous book in the series, I would have liked more interaction between them and maybe a little more healing from their shared pain of fighting in a war and losing a brother. Also, while his propensity to exclaim "Mmmm" started off as a funny character trait, the overabundance started to limit him; I started to miss some feel for his character. I know the "Mmmm" was to represent his humor, bafflement, or sarcasm for the moment/discussion, but actually getting a turn of phrase for at least one out of three of these moments would have added much color to his personality.
 
"Nothing from the past can make me anything less than whoever it is I wish to be."

I thought this started off really strong with the attraction and interaction between Alex and Angelique. Their sexual tension enticed me to want to keep reading them but I was a bit disappointed on how quickly it was acted upon and I was left missing that anticipation. Angelique's family drama, the plot that drives the danger and mystery, was all laid out admirably but the middle sagged somewhat for me as the author dragged out some misdirection (regarding secondary characters) to, in my opinion, unnecessarily keep the reader guessing.
 
Angelique and Alex were both interesting characters in their own right and they did have the spark us readers all crave for our couples. I wanted my anticipation to be feed a little longer but this couple definitely had some heat to them. If you're looking for a 1800s historical with family drama, betrayals, and heat set in a world where you can't wait for secondary characters to get their own book, add this one to your list.

Thanks Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and netgalley for this ARC.

Loved the scary moments, passionate secrets, and unstoppable highlander in love. So much happens that will make you laugh, scream, and love this story

Angelique Archer is trying to support her family in the only way she knows how, by counting cards at the only club open to women, LaVoie's. She revels in the knowledge that she can feel safe because she is unnoticeable and completely forgettable.
Except someone has noticed her, Alexander LaVoie, club owner and rumored assassin. He is curious about this woman who comes in and always wins... but never extravagantly, never drawing attention to herself. And then he finds out how truly wonderful she is at mathematics. Between her brains and her wit, he feels himself start to slide into love. He's just convinced her to become a dealer in his nightclub (she wants to know how much his customers should win, she's worked out the probabilities and is prepared to keep it to whatever level Alex likes), when her brother, a marquess, is arrested for murder.
Angelique is going to need not only the help of Alex to get her brother out, but the Chegarre Agency as well.
Angelique was a little annoying just because she was SO SMART and Ms. Bowen kept showing us HOW SMART she was but I really liked that she created her own agency, even when it seemed like it should have been unavailable as an unmarried woman of that time.

Four stars
This book comes out January 31

This is the best book so far in the series. I just love this story by one of my favorite authors. MS Bowen has written a fantastic historical romance that will satisfy everyone. What a treat for all her fans. This can be read as a stand alone book for those of interest.
Lots of mystery, well developed characters and steamy scenes. Oh, I couldn't wait to read this and want to share my thoughts.
You have on smart, intelligent heroine with sass and spunk and is nobody's fool. She makes her way in the world taking care of her family. They come first and foremost in her mind. Angelique Archer is way beyond the simpering miss. She can play a hard game of cards while speculating with her skills in reading numbers. She needs the money to support her kin so they can stay alive. Then one night a man zeroes in on her thinking she's up to something. He finds her beautiful and wants her in his life, bed etc.
Alexander Lavoie owns a club where people come to play cards and more. He is handsome rogue with a demeanor of charm and sex appeal. He is also powerful, rich and suave. He sees Angelique at one of his table playing cards and sparks fly. He knows she is down on her luck and offers her a job at his club where she can make a lot of money. She accepts and then they become intimate along the way.
Such a thrilling read for us, the readers to be a part of something different that appeals to many who love this kind of story.
Please read this to find out how Alexander and Angelique find their happy ever after.
I appreciate New Galley and Jordan Rubinstein for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

Kelly Bowen as the fantastic ability to make me fall in love with the leads by the end of the first chapter.

These two as leads had me swooning and rooting for them from the start. I loved Angelique right away and found her refreshing as a heroine. She has a big heart and an even bigger brain--and that was what stood out for me. Her intelligence in math and numbers is something you don't often see in a romance of this genre. Yes, you have those heroines who read books and are smart in their own way; but her mathematics skills was a nice touch for her character.

And Alex...swoon! I was a big fan of his from the previous novels and he did not disappoint. He's smart, protective (but not overly so) and just a great lead. His partnership with Angelique--both in the romantic and in the practical--is EXACTLY what I want for my couples. Perfection.

The plot itself was fantastic! The suspense never stopped building throughout this novel. And there were so many twists I didn't see coming! I loved the unpredictability of this story.

Just a well crafted novel from start to finish and a fabulous way to end this AMAZING series.

I've enjoyed Kelly Bowen's other books, but this one was, by far, the hottest romance out of them all! Angelique and Alex had such a great relationship - witty repartee, emotional bonding, steamy scenes - and I appreciate a book where the emotional revelations are just as hot as the sex! The plot was excellent, as well, with intrigue and mystery. Bowen's books are a definite must-buy for me now!

This is the 7th book I have read from Kelly Bowen and they just keep getting better. Her characters are not always typical Regency well healed, handsome, hero's or wealthy young Debutantes looking for a husband on the marriage mart.
There are Pirates, Gambling hell owners and lots of other interesting and smart hero's and heroines. This story is about a young lady trying to keep her brother from bringing the rest of her family to ruin with his drinking and gambling.
Lady Angelique Archer is a genius with numbers and makes the money she needs to keep food on the table and her younger brothers in school by gambling at Alexander Lavoie's club. Alex is a commoner who has made a fortune letting the morally corrupt and ignorant Lords of the Realm lose their money in his club.

When Alex notices Angelique she tries to escape without him finding out who she is. When he refuses to let her leave the club on foot and insists on seeing her home she finds she cannot refuse without causing her identity to be revealed and her only source of money dry up. Only when they are on their way to his coach someone shoots at Angelique and Alex is determined to find out who wants her dead.

Then her wastrel brother is accused of murder and sent to the Tower. She has no choice but to turn to Alex for help in trying to prove her brother innocent. As they spend more time together they find themselves unable to keep their minds or bodies to themselves. Alex knows that he can never have a woman like Angelique, but she doesn't agree and wants him for herself.

What follows is a perilous journey of danger, betrayal, a mystery that has plagued her family since her father died and the chance of a love that could conquer both their hearts.

Kelly writes a story full of passion, intrigue and powerful emotion that will leave you wanting more. She gives her characters challenges that would defeat ordinary people, but Alex and Angelique are much more. They are strong, stubborn, smart and will go to any length to protect each other. This is a moving love story that will leave you satisfied and eagerly awaiting her next novel. There is also witty moments in this book that will have you smiling and moments that will bring tears to your eyes.

This is a book that should not be missed. I recommend it highly and it will go into my keeper pile to reread again.

I received this book from the Publisher for an honest review.