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Between the Devil and the Duke

(Season for Scandal #3)

Kelly Bowen (Goodreads Author)

4.02 · Rating details · 2,079 ratings · 330 reviews

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. ...more

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Kindle Edition, 353 pages

Published January 31st 2017 by Forever

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Jan 21, 2017 Stacey is Sassy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-series, arc, net-galley, the-good-guy-hero, is-that-a-gun-in-your-pocket, intrigue, steamy, best-of-2017, favourites-2017

***IT'S ALIVE***

Ladies and gentlemen…we have a WINNER!!

I have a confession…I normally prefer my hero in a historical romance to be the stuck up, snobby aristocrat who looks down his nose at…the commoners. I get a kick out of their arrogance and bossiness. Their confidence, to me, sends shivers up my spine. Well, I’ve been proven wrong. It seems I can be stimulated by a confident commoner just as much…if not more.

I LOVED Between the Devil and the Duke. To be honest, I should probably remove a hal ...more

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Jun 28, 2016 Caz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: aar, romance-1800-1850, 4-and-a-half-stars, arc

I've given this an A- at AAR, so thats 4.5 stars rounded up.

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 r ...more

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Jul 05, 2018 Elizabeth rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars, historical-romance, 2018, reviewed

Lovely!

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Jan 23, 2017 WhiskeyintheJar rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, historical, romance-bingo

3.5 stars

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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, mone 3.5 stars

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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.
...more

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Feb 07, 2017 Jo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars, heroines-i-love, book-boyfriend, mine, books-i-love, feel-good-read, gr2017

Lady Angelique Archer has been trying to hold her family together since her parents died and their family fortune had gone missing. Her eldest newly titled brother is no help whatsoever since he spends his time and money on drinks and whores. Her affinity with numbers has given her the opportunity to make some money which her family desperately needed. And things were going well until she caught the attention of Mr. Lavoie. But instead of throwing her out of his gaming club he offers her a job.

Alexander Lavoie has been intrigued by the mysterious blonde since the first moment she came into his club. And when he realises that her winning streak is due to more than mere luck, he knows he wants her as an employee and a lot more.

“But survival has made me who I am. I learned to rely on myself because there was no one else. To understand that my strengths were not failures. There are many things that I regret in my life, but I cannot regret that.”

I loved Angelique and how smart, strong and brave she was. Instead of crying in despair over her circumstances she did what was necessary to keep her family from starving. She’s always tried to hide how smart she was, but circumstances forced her to embrace her gift and to finally be herself.

The moment he had gazed into her intelligent blue eyes, he’d been smitten. The moment she’d stepped between him and two warders’ blades, he’d been lost. And the moment she’d trusted him with her body, gifted him with her raw vulnerability and demanded the same from him, he’d fallen in love.

I have been intrigued by sexy club owner Alexander Lavoie since the first book. And I absolutely adored him in this book. I loved that he desired Angelique since the first moment he saw her, and that her intelligence just made him crave her more. It was awesome how totally smitten he was with her, how he wanted to protect her and give her the opportunity to excel at numbers, doing what she loves most. And his scar across his face just added to his sexy appeal.

“Please stay. Stay with me.” They were mumbled words, rough and urgent against her lips.
She pulled back from him, an overwhelming surfeit of joy and love making her entire body shake. “There is nowhere else I want to be,” she whispered. “There is nowhere else I belong.”

I loved the chemistry between Angelique and Alex, how they worked together at his club and at finding out who the villain was. The slow-burn of their romance was amazing, how hard they tried not to give into their desire but with every look, every touch it became inevitable. And when they finally came together it was so hot and sexy!

I loved how intriguing and suspenseful the plot was with trying to figure out what really happened to the Archer family fortune and who the bad guys were. I even had my suspicions about who the villain was, and I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out I was wrong ;-D

Kelly Bowen is fast becoming one of my top HR authors. I love her smart and unconventional heroines, her sexy and interesting heroes, the passionate romance and the extremely intriguing plot. Her books are always winners and I always look forward to reading them. And next is the very interesting and mysterious Gisele Whitby’s book. I cannot wait to read it!! And hopefully King’s book will be the fifth book…. Pretty please?? This series is a must read for all HR fans. Highly recommended.

...more

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Feb 06, 2017 Mei rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

I confirm: I'm Ms. Bowen fan! :)

I love her writing style. It's just a right mix of descriptions, inner thoughts, great dialogue and hot attraction!

I also like that in this series the heroines are very interesting. Not just physically (they're romantic heroines and therefore beautiful), but also women with unsual talents.

Here we have Angelique who's a genoìius with numbers! Since I can add (or do any other mathematical calculation) worth a damn, I am deeply in awe when somebody can do that like A ...more

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Mar 26, 2018 Heather K (dentist in my spare time) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, romance, crime, m-f, narrator-very-good, historical

*3.75 stars*

Some books grab me from the start, but Between the Devil and the Duke was one that built and built. I thought I knew what was going to happen, but the twists and turns really surprised me, and by the end, I was totally hooked.

Ashford McNab did a fine job narrating, though I prefer some of the other historical romance narrators. She was good, but some of her phrasing came out a bit stilted in the beginning, and I thought her male voices for all the side characters were gratingly whin ...more

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Jul 01, 2017 Lady Gabriella of Awesomeness (SLOW) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-romance, one-heck-of-a-billionare, angst, best-couple-banter, insta-love, loveable-sec-characters, office-romance, pestering-ex, steam-factor-level-5, swoon-worthy-hero

5 Lisa Kleypas-like Stars !

What a fantastic read ! Would absolutely recommend it to anybody in interested in a strongly written HR read with three-dimensional characters and a superb sub-plot. Well done !

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May 31, 2017 Bj rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, 4-and-a-half-stars, audiobooks, audio-1000-bj2017, library-loan

4.5 "The Math Whiz Lady & Her Benefactor Turned HEA" Stars for the story & 5 stars for the narration!

This listen flew by! I loved the chemistry between the H and He as well as the unexpected twists! Moreover, Ashford McNab's narration was divine!

Source: Library-loan. ...more

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Jan 27, 2017 Anna's Herding Cats rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, for-review, 2017-blog-books, 2017-hcbs, business-owner, 2017, gambling, kelly-bowen, 2017-pick-your-genre, gaming-hell

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lbGeV9

Bowen just gets better and better! Between the Devil and the Duke was a thrillingly unique adventure that kept me eagerly reading just...one...more...page. You know, instead of cleaning the house, or working on my steps. I just needed one...more...page first. lol I loved the characters, the daring, the mystery and set up. The entire world is rich, luscious and utterly delicious.

So the gist is that Alex? He's rather intrigued ...more

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Feb 16, 2017 Amanda rated it liked it

Shelves: 3-stars, 2017-letter-q-challenge

The first two books in this series put Bowen on the auto-buy list for me. As improbable as the plots have been, the fact that she's had women engaged in unusual professions really captured my attention. I've been eagerly awaiting Alex's story (although not as much as King's, which I hope we'll get eventually even though she's moving on to a new series next). Unfortunately this book didn't quite meet my expectations.

Bowen has created another intriguing female protagonist in Angelique. I like the The first two books in this series put Bowen on the auto-buy list for me. As improbable as the plots have been, the fact that she's had women engaged in unusual professions really captured my attention. I've been eagerly awaiting Alex's story (although not as much as King's, which I hope we'll get eventually even though she's moving on to a new series next). Unfortunately this book didn't quite meet my expectations.

Bowen has created another intriguing female protagonist in Angelique. I like the complexity of her heroines because it's surprisingly easy to make a so-called "strong" heroine one-dimensional. Angelique is the sister of a marquess fallen on hard times, trying to disguise their precarious financial situation from the ton and taking on the responsibility for rescuing her family singlehandedly due to her older brother being perpetually drunk and useless. None of this is unique in historical romances. I feel like I've read a hundred stories with a heroine secretly trying to make money to save her family with no help. In the hands of a talented writer like Bowen, it still felt interesting, if not original.

We soon learn that Angelique, who has been playing vingt-et-un at Lavoie's gaming hell to win money, is not a card sharp so much as a mathematical genius. She has the rare ability to do massive sums in her head instantly. (I used to think these people were completely made up until I saw someone do this on a talk show once.) Alex notices her from the first night she comes in because she has a routine: she buys expensive French brandy, goes to the card table in one of her two low-cut evening gowns, and divests her opponents of large sums of money without drawing attention to herself. When she's accosted by a fellow player who loses a small fortune to her, Alex steps in. He takes her to his office to question her and arrange for her to get home, and she points out errors in a ledger he happens to have open on his desk. He is fascinated (and aroused, natch) by her freakish math abilities and offers her a job on the spot. He assures her that he intends to act professionally as he doesn't mix business with pleasure but Angelique is not inclined to accept his help.

I found their first interactions stilted and unconvincing. Alex, for all intents and purposes, falls in love in his first interaction with Angelique, although he doesn't admit this to himself. I love a smitten hero but this happened too fast to feel real. Angelique, meanwhile, is obstinate and a little too proud to accept his offer of a job. She's in her own head a lot in these first scenes and thus there's not much conversation aside from Alex saying "mmmm" (something he repeats about 600,000 times in the book). When they're attacked by Angelique's drunk brother and his friends pretending to be highwaymen, Alex insists on taking her (and her incapacitated brother) home. When they get to her home, Alex offers any help she needs, pretty much unconditionally. Again, I found myself wondering why? Sure, he's attracted to her breasts and her brain (in that order, if you ask me), but I couldn't fault Angelique for being hesitant even though he's been nothing but a gentleman.

All of this sets up the story: when Angelique's brother steals the money she won, she has no choice but to accept Alex's offer of a job being his vingt-et-un dealer. Gerald, Angelique's brother and a marquess, gets wrapped up in some scheme to make up for the money he stole from her (which was meant to pay tuition at Harrow for their younger twin brothers, much to his surprise because he's oblivious). He soon finds himself suspected of murder. There's a whole mystery plot that takes up a good portion of the second half of the book.

I didn't entirely get past my initial disbelief at how quickly Alex and Angelique "connected" but Bowen does a good job drawing out the sexual tension. I still think they began strongly in lust and I don't see how they learned enough about each other for this to turn into love. Alex is having Angelique and her brother followed at one point (which he does admit to her) and digs into her past to try to figure out the mystery of her family's missing fortune, which Angelique's father secretly lost by selling almost all of their holdings to an unknown source. This is where Ivory, heroine of Duke of My Heart, and her firm Chegarre & Associates first comes in. Angelique separately approaches C&A to help clear her brother's name and discovers Alex is more than the owner of a gaming hell.

But the longer the book went on, the more issues I had. For one, I found it completely implausible that two people as intelligent as Alex and Angelique couldn't figure out one of the big secrets of the book. I don't mean the entire mystery--and its multiple parts--but one particular thing that is basically the root of her family's issues that is so obvious that anyone with the smallest analytical skills could figure it out, let alone these two.

I also felt like this book had so much wasted potential. Let's start with Alex. I was so looking forward to his book, as he makes quite an impression as a secondary character in the preceding books. But I felt like we still know next to nothing about him and his past. This should've been the book where this is explored and yet, aside from some tidbits here and there, I barely know any more about him after finishing his book than I did when he was in the background.

I also felt like Gerald, the drunkard of a brother, could've been fleshed out better. When he apologised to Angelique for stealing her money, I saw glimmers of someone who could be a surprisingly interesting character. Not as future romance hero material, but as someone more than the cookie cutter irresponsible brother/aristocrat we see in so many books. Alas, from the minute he's thrown into the Tower, his character all but disappears (given the entire plot of the book becomes a quest to clear his name and free him, I found this baffling). And when we do see him, he's nothing but a spoiled and immature manchild. I guess I was...disappointed. And not entirely satisfied with how this part of the book played out.

I'm sure many people will enjoy this book and I by no means disliked it. But I know Bowen can do better. Oh, and this didn't affect my rating and I don't blame the author for this, but who thought up the title? I know dukes sell books (supposedly) but this is a moot point when the only dukes in this book are the hero of the first book, who makes a brief but important appearance, and the father of Gerald's slimy best friend.

Note: This book fulfills "Quiz" in the Letter Q Challenge. ...more

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Dec 01, 2016 Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* rated it it was amazing

Kelly Bowen really impressed me with the first two books in her Season for Scandal series. I love her original, engaging and deeply romantic stories, her smart heroines and sexy heroes. This is the third book in the Season for Scandal and definitely my favourite.

I liked Alex in the previous two books but I never anticipated that he would be such a wonderful hero. I found the combination of his roguish charm, intelligence, sex appeal and wit irresistible.

He left her where she stood and retrieved ...more

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Jan 11, 2019 Lubnaa (Romance Library) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: beautiful-cover-stepback, fav-couples, chemistry, memorable-chapters, own, fav-heroes, fav-heroines, carriage-shenanigans, 2017, historical-romance

You know that feeling when you read the first 2 chapters of a book and you already know it's going to be a 5 star read? It's a rare experience, but it happened with me here. I'm kicking myself for not reading Between the Devil and the Duke sooner. I can't believe I put it off for almost 2 years when it turned out to the best one in the series. It's one of those books that I was excited to continue reading, but at the same time, I didn't ever want to finish it because I loved the characters too much to say goodbye.

Betwen the Devil and the Duke is a smart, sexy, and sizzling romance between a gambling hell owner and a heroine who is caught counting cards at his vingt-et-un table. Instead of throwing Angelique out, Alex recognizes that she's a genius and offers her a job at his club.

This book reminds me of all the reasons why historical romance appeals to me the most as a reader. Alex is so damn sexy and he is 100% turned on by how smart the heroine is 🔥 The sexual tension here is incredibly well written. The chemistry was sizzling from the very moment Angelique and Alex laid eyes on each other. They gave me all the damn feels. And the sexual tension was just 🔥🔥🔥

The pairings in this series are always spot on, and Alex and Angelique are no exception. They were simply perfect for each other. Kelly Bowen has a way with pairing the perfect characters together as couples and that's the reason why I'm not worried about the kind of woman she'll eventually (and hopefully) pair with King. I also really enjoyed the plot; the mystery was thoroughly engaging and I had fun deciphering it. The ONLY thing missing is an epilogue. The ending was still extremely satisfying, but I just love epilogues, you know?

All the fucking stars for this book. It reminds me of the reason why historical romance is superior to other romance sub-genres (every other genre can go home tbh). I don't know how I will be able to move on to something else now.

P.S. No wonder this was nominated for a RITA. Also, I'm not 100% sure of the title's significance, but I don't give a shit because this book is magic. ...more

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Jan 30, 2017 Rose Blue rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: http://wp.me/p3QRh4-tT

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 t As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: http://wp.me/p3QRh4-tT

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.
...more

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Oct 14, 2017 Lady Wesley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hero-not-a-duke, listened, rita-2018

Kelly Bowen is a relatively new addition to my auto-buy list of authors, and the Season for Scandal series has been fun, exciting, and a pleasure to listen to.

Her heroines are strong, self-sufficient women, which is a bit of a stretch in Regency England, but Bowen makes it plausible. They are quite likable and able to hold their own against the men they are matched with. And although her first two heroes were dukes, they were not your usual dukes -- one was a former pirate and the other was a re ...more

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Aug 24, 2017 Joanna Loves Reading rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: buddy-read, reviewed, mofo-dukes, hr

This is the third and final book in the Season for Scandal. The Hero, Alex, has been featured in the previous two books, where he appeared to be a worthy hero. This book did not disappoint. He was the hero that I hoped he would be from reading about him previously. However, the heroine stole the show. Angelique is an extremely intelligent heroine and sister to a marquess, who has fallen into near ruin. She is doing all that she can to prevent that ruin, and one of the few options she has remaini ...more

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Nov 23, 2019 Anna lost in stories *A* rated it it was ok

Shelves: audiobooks-i-own, serious-dnf

2,5 stars... unfortunately this one is another audibook I am gonna DNF... apparently third time wasn't the charm... as in this is the third audiobook in a row I am deciding not to finish... *sighs* with this one I was able to wait until 38% but that was all I could give this story... the writing style wasn't bad, but I couldn't connect with either of the main characters and everything that has been happening between them was a bit too much too fast for me... too much attraction like waaaaaaaaaay ...more

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Nov 12, 2018 Kayla Brunson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, read-in-2018

I may be speaking too soon but Kelly Bowen might be making her way up on my HR authors list. This is my first book by her, (I didn't know that this was a part of a series, like always) but you can bet that I'm going to be buying more her books from now on.

The writing was fantastic and I loved our main characters, Alex and Angelique. Speaking of them, they had MAJOR CHEMISTRY!! Y'all the sexual tension between these two was killing me. Both characters had secrets and haven't really been show ...more

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Nov 14, 2017 Quirky Omega rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-erotica, historical-romance

Every time something terrible happens, the leads can't help but have sex. It's as if distress turns them on.

...more

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Jun 20, 2020 Topastro rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: disappointed, audio-book, historical-romance, 2020-reads

Don't discount this book due to my 2 star rating. This is a case of its me and not you. I really did like the over protective hero and the heroine was strong but it just didn't keep my attention despite the intrigue and gaming hell setting. C'est la Vie. ...more

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Jan 30, 2019 Jen (The Starry-Eyed Revue) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, audiobooks, library, 2019, historical-fiction

I've never read a novel by Kelly Bowen before but I quite enjoyed my first by her, and I'm sure it won't be my last. For some reason, most of my favorite historical romances take place in gaming hells, and this story is no different. I loved that the heroine was a genius at numbers, and instead of thinking her odd, the hero is charmed by this fact. Also, Ashford McNab is fabulous at narrating historical romance. She also narrates the Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt, which I also very much e ...more

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Feb 02, 2017 Amanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2017, banter-gives-me-life, covergasm, best-couples, regency-era, heroes-of-my-heart, prickly-princesses-and-ice-queens, catnip-reads, sweetheart-heroes, the-feels-were-real

“You have impressed me immeasurably, Lady Angelique.”
He was rewarded with a smile, one that actually reached her eyes, and the first one he had seen all night. “Good,” was all she said.”

I have been waiting to love, not just like or enjoy, a book in this series and finally it happened with Between the Devil and the Duke. Although, what’s not to love when Kelly Bowen has once again deployed her signature trope of heroes who end up completely (to quote Miss Ivory Moore) besotted with their heroines. And this was particularly true when it came to Alex and Angelique.

What made this book a winner for me was the fact that Alex was literally turned on by Angelique’s genius. Could there be anything hotter than that? He, and we, discover at the start that there was much more to Angelique’s card sharp skills than met the eye. She was a whiz with numbers, something she was encouraged to hide from the wagging tongues of the ton as math is not a becoming subject of study for ladies. So, Angelique instead became the Marble Maiden; invisible and of no consequence to anyone, not even herself. That is, until Alex saw HER. He saw her value and worth as a person as no one else had before. He saw her for the brilliant, passionate woman she was beneath that veil of anonymity and worked tirelessly in order to bring her true nature to the surface and to make her proud of who she was. And boy, did he succeed!

“When she stood in front of that mirror, with a man who had never treated her as anything less than his equal, a man to whom she’d revealed more of her true self than she’d ever done with any other, she had witnessed just how much he had wanted her.
And whether he knew it or not, Alexander Lavoie had gifted Angelique with a knowledge that she hadn’t possessed when she’d first here tonight. She finally understood beauty and the power that came with it. And she finally understood that it had nothing to do with how she looked.”

I really loved Angelique’s personal journey. Watching her embrace the traits that made her exceptional, and then learning how to turn those traits into strength and power; it was beyond rewarding. And through all her struggles, she never once wavered or stopped fighting; the definition of courageous. Ultimately, she realized that she was in fact not a maiden of marble, but a pillar of strength and that made all the difference.

“Truly, I’ve endured worse and survived,” she hastened to assure him.
“Yes. You survived.” It sounded flat. “You shouldn’t have to just survive.” Now his words had an edge to them
“But survival has made me who I am. I learned to rely on myself because there was no one else. To understand that my strengths were not failures. There are many things that I regret in my life, but I cannot regret that.”

Alex’s emotional growth by contrast wasn’t as an impactful, save for him finally allowing someone into his closely guarded heart, which was no small feat for a solitary being such as he. And watching the way he opened up to Angelique, as she did in turn with him, felt good and it felt right. I loved Alex as a character and a hero and I especially loved the way he loved Angelique.

“The moment he had gazed into her intelligent blue eyes, he’d been smitten. The moment she’d stepped between him and two warders’ blades, he’d been lost. And the moment she’d trusted him with her body, gifted him with her raw vulnerability and demanded the same from him, he’d fallen in love.”

The romance was the guiding light of the book, as was the likability and goodness of the two leads. Sure there was a looming plot that involved Angelique’s family which added mystery and intrigue but if I’m being honest, I could’ve done without it. Which is really saying something because I usually NEED plot of some kind to beef up the romance so to speak, but Alex and Angelique didn’t need any help. In fact, I kept going back re-reading all their scenes together, scenes that left me breathless on more than one occasion I might add, because of how much better they were than anything else that was going on and once the other plot took prominence over the romance, it was kind of a bummer. MORE ROMANCE, LESS PLOT. Wow, I never thought I’d write that like, EVER, but there it is.

Um, what else? The gaming hell setting was a lot of fun. As was seeing many familiar faces from previous books, the biggest exception being Elise who was a no show, which was slightly disappointing given how close she and Alex are as siblings. I haven’t a clue whose book might be next but I’m hoping for Gilda or King. ...more

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Feb 01, 2017 Ira rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Seriously this book made me speechless!

The whole mystery regarding the missing fortune was well kept.
My suspicions started almost the same time with Angélique, which is ok because that girl is crazy smart, lol:)

But when I found out the reason? It made me sick!
Who the hell do they think they are?
Everyone need to be end up in Bedlam because they were all maddening:(

Here the clue, the sad thing is I couldn't hate the villain much really.:(

So yup this book is another winner but I still love Elise' a ...more

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Feb 06, 2017 Annie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I wasn't too keen on the background plot but I loved Angelique and Alex so much <33333 ...more

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Feb 05, 2017 Al *the semi serial series skipper* rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hr

Loved it!

Now waiting with bated breath for King's book. ...more

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Feb 12, 2017 Tracy T. rated it it was amazing

Great story and narration by Ashford McNab. (audible review)

I really love Kelly Bowen's books! She writes such great stories. I want to see more of her on audible!

This was a really good story. I liked Angelique a lot. Love a heroine that is good with numbers. She was strong, smart, witty and beautiful. Alex was great too. Rich, handsome, strong with the perfect amount of arrogance. They made a great couple together. The sex was hot and steamy but didn't take away from the story. I was very nicel ...more

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Jan 11, 2017 Jaci rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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 gen
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. ...more

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Jan 09, 2017 Phoenix77 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

Kelly Bowen’s Season for Scandal series has introduced several intelligent and resourceful female characters but the third book Between the Devil and the Duke takes things one step further. Lady Angelique Archer is a true genius whose gift with mathematics may be the only salvation for her family. Her strength and composure in the face of overwhelming odds are bound to get noticed by a man who makes probability his living.

The mysterious woman had caught Alexander Lavoie’s eye from the first nigh ...more

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Mar 23, 2017 Teresa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Definitely my favorite one of this series. I've been intrigued by Alexander Lavoie since book one, and he was everything I hoped he'd be. I have loved that each book in this series has featured a strong, independent heroine, and that continued with Angelique. This book went in different directions than I expected, but I loved every one of them. It was full of adventure, action, intrigue, and lots of delicious chemistry.

Now I anxiously wait with fingers crossed in hopes that Kelly Bowen decides t ...more

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Mar 21, 2017 Laura J. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Excellent read. The heroine, Angelique, is in dire straits. Her parents are dead, her brother is an idiot on his way to ruin and her younger brothers' school tuition is past due. She's beautiful in an unfashionable sense, has a gift with numbers, resourceful and is honest with herself. The hero runs a high class gambling establishment and is a partner in a 'fixer' business. The hero, Alex, won me over when he was attracted to the heroine not only because of her beauty but because of her intellec ...more

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About Kelly Bowen

Kelly Bowen

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Award-winning author Kelly Bowen attended the University of Manitoba, earning a BSc & MSc in veterinary studies. She worked as a research scientist before realizing her dream to write historical fiction. Currently, Kelly lives with her family in Winnipeg, Canada.

Other books in the series

Season for Scandal (3 books)

Books by Kelly Bowen

Duke of My Heart (Season for Scandal, #1)

A Duke to Remember (Season for Scandal, #2)

A Duke in the Night (The Devils of Dover #1)

I've Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm (The Lords of Worth, #1)

A Good Rogue Is Hard to Find (The Lords of Worth, #2)

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33 Sweeping Multigenerational Family Dramas

Why not focus on some serious family drama? Not yours, of course, but a fictional family whose story you can follow through the generations of...

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Quotes from Between the Devil...

“Have you given any thought to the formula you would like me to run?"
Alex nearly lost his grip on the decanter. "I beg your pardon?"
"At least a few of your patrons will need to achieve moderate success, and the occasional player will need to achieve considerable success at the vingt-et-un table if you hope to attract those individuals whose pocket books match their greed and belief that the next hand will change their fortune. I will require instruction as to how you wish me to deal in order to maximize both prophets and popularity." She withdrew a small square of paper from a hidden pocket somewhere in the folds of her skirts and held it out to him.
"I've run some scenarios, allowing for a margin of error that I will not be able to avoid. It's all basic accounting worked into a matrix of probabilities, but I thought you might want to review it."
Alex very carefully replaced the heavy crystal on the surface of his desk struggling to draw a breath. This was not good at all. Forget his alarming charge into the fray on a white horse, he was rather afraid he had just fallen in love.” — 1 likes

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