I have enjoyed every single book in the Season for Scandal series by Kelly Bowen. In fact, I think this one was my favorite. It features Alex Lavoie, the male member of the Chagarre and Associates team. He’s also a spy of sorts and owner of a gaming hell. That is where he meets our heroine, Angelique.

She is something of a card shark. Brilliant with math. And it’s that skill she hopes to use to save her family from complete destitution. Both of her parents are dead and her brother, though a peer of the realm, is young and stupid. He drinks and parties and cares nothing for the fact that they don’t have enough money to run their household. So Angelique tries quietly to earn it at the card tables. She stays under the radar for the most part, but Alex has a sharp eye, and he is intrigued by her.

Instead of being angry that she keeps winning, he hires her for his club to help make him money. That’s how he gets wrapped up in her family drama. It’s drama that only gets worse when her brother gets accused of a crime he did not commit, and she has to turn to Alex and his special skills to figure out what’s going on and save her idiot sibling. In the meantime, of course, they fall in love.

I really enjoyed Angelique as the female lead. I liked that she uses her brain to solve her problems. She is very smart and she never whines or simpers about her dire straights. I liked unraveling the mysteries of Alex. I liked that there is nothing too huge and dark in his background for a change. Yes, he’s had some life changing circumstances that are worth exploring, but I’ve almost gotten to a point where in every book I read, there is a huge deep dark secret in the hero’s past and well, Alex’s backstory works quite nicely. I also enjoyed that while he fought against falling for Angelique, he didn’t fight all that hard. It was sweet to see him head over heels for this woman who society had rejected. He saw the beauty that so many others missed.

One other thing that I thought was cool, without giving away too much, was the fact that I did not figure out who the villains were right away. It completely made sense, but it’s fun when the mystery isn’t too obvious. There was one big clue as to why Angelique’s family was targeted, and that was enough to let you figure out just enough to feel smart and still be surprised at the same time.

The plot move quickly, the romance with satisfying, and the sex was good. Now all I need is a happy ever after for King. If you aren’t reading this series, it’s totally worth checking out.

Rating: B+

I have chosen not to finish this title.  I was not really able to engage with either of the characters and this made it difficult for me to enjoy the book.  Thank you, anyway, for the opportunity.

I look forward to the next title through your publisher!

Laura

Publisher's Description:

Their love was always in the cards.
He should have thrown her out. But when club owner Alexander Lavoie catches a mysterious blonde counting cards at his vingt-et-un table, he's more intrigued than angry. He has to see more of this beauty-in his club, in his office, in his bed. But first he'll have to devise a proposition she can't turn down.

Gossip said he was an assassin. Common sense told her to stay away. But Angelique Archer was desperate, and Lavoie's club offered a surefire way to make quick money-until she got caught. Instead of throwing her out though, the devil offers her a deal: come work for him. Refusing him means facing starvation, but with a man so sinfully handsome and fiercely protective, keeping things professional might prove impossible . . . 

My Thoughts:

Hang onto your hats ladies. This book is one for the ages.
I had never read a Kelly Bowen book before this one, but even though it is apparently book #3 in a series I have no problem recommending it as a standalone title.  I will be certain to look into other titles by this new to me author.
The characters are so very interesting and well thought out and the storyline keeps you on your toes. You just have to keep reading to discover what happens next.
 The cover is a nice touch and drew me to requesting it as an ARC at  NetGalley. The title of the book, however is a bit confusing because the only Dukes involved are really secondary characters in this wonderfully written tale.
I gave this book 4.75 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization and 4 of 5 stars for heat. The underlying physical interest between our hero and heroine are necessary to complete this great book.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
This in no way affected my opinion of this book.

Between the Devil and the Duke is a really engaging story. I was hooked right away and was surprised that this book had way more depth to it than I had assumed. Historical romances tend to get repetitive but this was a fresh and sexy story. Angelique's fierce personality was perfectly suited for Alex. I really enjoyed the back and forth between them; it created delicious tension. Some of the steamiest parts of the story weren't even the sex scenes which were hot but not excessive and overdone. The mystery in the story is really what kept me engaged overall. It wasn't predictable and had me guessing right up until the big reveal. Beautiful and well-written with a satisfying HEA. I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There's a lot to love about this story. Ms. Bowen presents a beautiful and intelligent woman of society, and a man of power without a title. Their worlds are different, their lives are different, yet the attraction between them makes the playing field even.

Angelique's unique talent with numbers is why she's at the gaming hell in the first place. She has younger brothers to care for because their older brother is too much of a good-for-absolutely-nothing Marquess. It's clear she isn't there out of necessity; options to raise funds are limited. No, if she had other options she would take them but she's desperate and playing a table puts coins coins quickly into her empty pockets.

The problem is, the owner of the club she frequents notices her. It isn't just her beauty that captures his attention but the fact the she is there consistently and she commands every table she plays at. Alex has never met a woman like her, and her ability to play so well with seemingly little effort intrigues him. That interest ratchets up when she refuses his help when things take a turn for potential worse one night. Why wouldn't she want his help?

As a reader, it's obvious: she doesn't want him to know who she is.

But there, right there, is where Angelique's appeal ensnares Alex completely. He wants to know her, know about her. He wants more with her than he's ever wanted with a woman before. Her mystery pulls him in. His desire to learn her inside and out reinforces his determination to do so.

The romance between Angelique and Alex felt both slow and fast. Getting to know one another was the slow part. The fall from attraction to lust was the fast part. For me, anyway. Yet, it didn't feel wrong. Perhaps because there were other things going on, situations and circumstances that kept the story moving, mostly involving Angelique's family. Trying to solve the mystery of where her family's fortune disappeared to plus figuring out who was behind her brother's sudden imprisonment were certainly other driving forces in this story. It was a heady mix of romance, mystery, and suspense, to be sure.

Ms. Bowen somehow manages to keep this series interesting with each additional story added. The characters are gorgeous, and I don't mean just physically. Each one is strong yet weak, able yet not, confident yet uncertain. Each couple so far has found a compliment in the other, a person who makes up for their deficiencies without degrading them. Alex and Angelique are no different. The change was greater for Angelique as she learned to trust a man who had the means help her family but would move mountains, perform the impossible, to earn her love and protect and cherish the heart she gave him.

I'm a big fan of Kelly Bowen's writing. Her characters are always so much fun, interesting and slightly different compared to standard heros/heroines. This book is once more a great blend of action, mystery and romance. The only thing I did miss was a bit more of the Alex and Angelique's back story, we catch glimpses but not the full picture. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't quite understand the connection between the title and the book?

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.

I have yet to read a book by Ms. Bowen that I did not give over 4 stars to, which is unheard of for me, she writes amazing historical romances, stories full of suspense, intriguing characters and of course romance.

We are again treated to seeing the people who own and work for Chegarre and Associates, a mysterious business that has a way of making bothersome things disappear for those with enough money. Alexander Lavoie works with his sister at the agency however he also owns his own gambling hell. He is rumored to be a spy and an assassin and is intrigued when a beautiful woman comes into his club who not only wins but does it without others realizing what she has done.

Angelique Archer is desperate for money and uses her skill at numbers to beat the system at Lavoie’s club. She makes sure she loses enough so she is not noticed, but Alex has had his eye on her from the first time she came to his club. Before he even knows who she is, he is giving her a job as a dealer. When it is revealed that she is the sister of a down on his luck Marquess, Alex is even more intrigued and uses his knowledge and the resources from the agency to find out about the mysterious woman.

Angelique and Alex find themselves looking at her family and her brother’s friends when tragedy strikes and she is frantic to help her brother. Betrayal, family secrets and mystery are unraveled as the two uncover the answers to her past. As they become close, they realize how much they mean to each other yet danger is just around the corner.

Again, I am shouting out about how much I love each of Ms. Bowen’s stories. I have been in a slump of reading lately but when I picked this one up, I had a hard time putting it down until I finished it. Secrets, lies, lost fortunes all amount to an exciting story.

When we first meet Angelique, she is a very composed and strong woman, yet we get a glimpse of a woman who has had to grow up quickly in order to take care of her family after her parents are gone. She is a wiz with numbers, a savant of sorts and I love that about her, she amazes people with her ability. She is cautious when she first meets Alex but realizes he is exactly what she needs, both to help her with her family crisis and when she realizes how much he means to her.

Alex has been one of my favorites since I first met him, in book one. He has always been a little on the dangerous side, but I love how he gets along with both his sister and “the duchess”, Ivory, they have a great report together, the banter is fun to read. Angelique captivates him from the beginning and he treats her with awe and respect. When they find their attraction is too hard to resist, the chemistry is electric and the passion sizzles. Their romance is one for the ages and I enjoyed their journey immensely.

The story is engaging from beginning to end and I enjoyed seeing past characters as well as meeting new ones, however this can easily be read as a standalone. I love King, the charismatic gentleman who is an enigma, and wonder if we will ever know his story, such a mystery. All in all a great romance with elements of suspense and intrigue.

Published on book blog WillReadForFeels.com:

Regency romance writer Kelly Bowen was one of my fave author discoveries last year, and I was an instant fan of her A Season for Scandal series, featuring the scandal-fixing agency known as Chegarre & Associates. So I was excited when I got my hands on a copy of the third book in the series, Between the Devil and the Duke.

I was not disappointed in the two main characters. Gambling den owner Alex Lavoie had been a supporting character in the two books prior to this one, and he’s just enough of a rogue to have charmed me and enough of a hero to leave me swooning even before I’d read the first page of this book. Of course, these pages brought those dual aspects into sharper focus, and I enjoyed his peculiar brand of honor and avarice.

The character I really enjoyed here was Angelique, though. I mean, there’s a reason why I keep coming back to TV shows like Bones and Scorpion and the now-defunct Unforgettable—I have an affection for genius characters who find ways to make their brilliant brains work for them. I especially love it when they find not-quite-geniuses who love them for the people they are without being intimidated by their brilliance. Angelique finds this in Alex, but my enjoyment of her character goes deeper than that. Yes, when we meet her, she’s something of a damsel in distress, but she’s one determined to pull herself out of the predicament she finds herself in, and although she accepts Alex’s help, she measures the aid he can provide against her own abilities and circumstances, then makes sure she pulls her weight and contributes toward the resolution of her problems rather than waiting on the sidelines for the white knight to save the day.

This partnership makes me believe in this couple, because I can see how the rest of their lives will play out.

I think if there’s one thing that left me wanting in this book, it was that I wished the intrigue aspect of the plot required a bit more brain power. A reader basically gets two suspects, and one of them is so blatantly villain material the sheer obviousness eliminates him fairly quickly. Which leaves the other option. So when the mystery unravels, you are completely unsurprised and vaguely dissatisfied by the ease of guessing who the bad guy is.

Regardless, this was a wholly engrossing read—which I started and finished in a single sitting—and while I would still recommend starting with the first book in the A Season for Scandal series, Duke of My Heart, I have no doubts that any Regency romance aficionado could pick up Between the Devil and the Duke and enjoy it as a standalone novel.

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!