Book 16 in the Distinguished Rogues Series
By Heather Boyd. Pub Date 7/6/2021
4.75*. Best enjoyed in a private setting…unless you’re into that voyeuristic sort of thing.
He’s an heir to a dukedom. She’s a spinster with a secret.
Thaddeus ‘Teddy’ Berringer is one of many men who have a long wait until they inherit their birthright, but Teddy isn’t wanting it anytime soon. However, that doesn’t stop the Duke of Exeter from encouraging Teddy to find a bride and settle down, something that Teddy also is not in a hurry to do.
Eugenia Hillcrest is in her mid-twenties, which makes her a spinster and wallflower in the eyes of society. Eugenia has no real care of what society thinks. Beneath the heavy mantle of social convention lies a sensual wildflower who is not afraid to ask for what she wants.
When Teddy finally speaks to Eugenia at a ball thrown by her younger sister and marquess-to-be, Sophia, he becomes intrigued with the eldest Hillcrest. That only grows as Eugenia puts forth an indecent proposal that Teddy is all too willing to accept.
As the lovers grow more fond of one another, Eugenia knows that she will eventually have to let Teddy go. She has no desire to bed and wed him, even as she begins to give him pieces of her heart without realizing it. What she doesn’t expect is to almost lose him to a husband of her own! As secrets are brought to light, Eugenia and Teddy must come to terms with the worst case scenario, which also may mean losing what they didn’t even know they wanted most.
This was a good one. It was very sensual with well-described love scenes that would make even the most seasoned of HR readers a little hot under the collar. There were definitely a few things I would have liked to see more of, like when Teddy bought Eugenia a particular gift that would have added the perfect kink to round out the erotic aspects of this book. I’m not sure why she stopped before that part, but it was still great with a lot of hot scenes and heart-bursting romance. That’s what we all ask for in a good HR, right?
Overall, the plot was very strong, the auxiliary characters were well fleshed out, and the story was the perfect wallflower and scandal trope. I absolutely loved the characters and I am so excited for the next book in this series because they all deserve a story of their own! I may even go back and read the first 15 books of the Distinguished Rogues series!
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.
Always Lost in Words 