ARC Review: Tall, Duke, and Scandalous (The Byronic Book Club #3) by Amy Rose Bennett
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Series: The Byronic Book Club #3
Author: Amy Rose Bennett
Published August 8th 2023 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Goodreads Synopsis
This bluestocking would do almost anything to save her reputation and her grandfather's legacy…even marry a scandalous duke.
No-nonsense Jane Delaney divides her time between her grandfather's beloved bookstore and writing newspaper columns, determined to overcome a past that's left her with scars on her face and in her heart. But when the store ends up in unexpected financial jeopardy and Jane's secrets are threatened by a mysterious blackmailer, she finds herself in desperate need of money. All seems lost until a temptation like no other presents itself...
Christopher Marsden is the new rakish Duke of Roxby…and someone wants him dead. The problem is, he has no idea who or why. Following a vicious attack, he's acquired a rare affliction where he can no longer recognize faces. But when he catches Miss Delaney attempting to steal a priceless book from his library, Christopher can tell her apart from the rest. Her scarred beauty stands out like a beacon, and he doesn't want to let her go. So he offers her an outrageous proposal: the money she needs in exchange for a marriage of convenience and her help in catching his would-be killer.
As passion flares between the two unlikely newlyweds, dangerous truths are exposed and hidden enemies poise to strike. Can these two damaged souls survive long enough to find love?
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
When her mother forfeits her share in the family bookstore, Jane Delaney knows she needs to do something drastic to save it, and herself. Thinking she might be able to sell gossip from a scandalous party thrown by Christopher Marsden, Duke of Roxby, Jane comes across a first edition copy of The Canterbury Tales. Considering stealing it, she is caught by none other than the duke, who tells her to return the next morning to discuss what'll happen next. For Christopher, returning from war to his new title, he has been in a number of 'accidents', one of which left him with face blindness. He doesn't recognise who anyone is, not even his own face in the mirror, but with Jane, he sees her, and knows it is Jane. So, in return for not mentioning the attempted theft, Christopher proposes to Jane, offering to pay off her debts even, as long as she helps him navigate society, and try and discover who wants him dead. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon becomes anything but, though will the couple be able to love each other?
This was the best ending to the Byronic Book Club series I could've asked for. Jane was a fantastic heroine, who was by no means perfect, and she loved her family and friends so much. Her and Christopher didn't have the best first meeting, but their chemistry was fantastic. One of the reasons to marry so quickly was to ensure that Christopher had an heir, and Jane was more than happy to have a child. She had been unlucky in love before, and when her ex-fiancee abandoned her after her accident, she had shied away from love. Not expecting to fall for Christopher, Jane was happy to help him with his face-blindness, and wanted to stop the villain in their tracks. But she was also being blackmailed herself, and didn't know who to trust. I wish she had opened up to Christopher more, but I understood her hesitancy. The villains of the story were easy to identify, but I enjoyed the mystery and camaraderie of the couple with the couples from the previous books. The epilogue tied together the whole series so well, and I am so pleased with where our three heroines are left. A fantastic ending!
Dates Read:
August 21, 2023
Rating
4 Stars
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