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Ladies of the Order #4
Your Scarred Heart
An enquiry agent hiding from her past.
When Miss Honora Wild meets her first client, she fears there has been a dreadful mistake. Having escaped from a domineering father, she shouldn’t have to work for a man suspected of murder, one whose mood matches his frightening facial scar. She shouldn’t have to venture to his clifftop castle to prove the devil is innocent of the crime. But she owes her employer a great debt and has no option but to accept the assignment.
A lord plagued by injustice.
Lord Deville, had every reason to murder his brother and almost wished he had pushed the fool off the cliff. Society sees Sylvester’s disfigurement as a sign of guilt, and he’s desperate to clear his name. He had known to expect a female agent, but devious women have been the bane of his existence, and he suspects Miss Wild is hiding a wicked secret beneath her timid facade.
Will Honora learn to see beyond Sylvester’s intimidating persona?
Will Sylvester learn to trust a woman who’s not been entirely honest?
When Miss Honora Wild meets her first client, she fears there has been a dreadful mistake. Having escaped from a domineering father, she shouldn’t have to work for a man suspected of murder, one whose mood matches his frightening facial scar. She shouldn’t have to venture to his clifftop castle to prove the devil is innocent of the crime. But she owes her employer a great debt and has no option but to accept the assignment.
A lord plagued by injustice.
Lord Deville, had every reason to murder his brother and almost wished he had pushed the fool off the cliff. Society sees Sylvester’s disfigurement as a sign of guilt, and he’s desperate to clear his name. He had known to expect a female agent, but devious women have been the bane of his existence, and he suspects Miss Wild is hiding a wicked secret beneath her timid facade.
Will Honora learn to see beyond Sylvester’s intimidating persona?
Will Sylvester learn to trust a woman who’s not been entirely honest?
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2022
153 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Adele Clee
56 books535 followersAdele Clee writes historical romance mysteries set in the early nineteenth century. Her stories blend romance with intrigue, gothic atmosphere, and a touch of scandal, often unfolding in Regency and early Victorian London. Readers praise her scarred heroines, brooding heroes, and the way love and mystery intertwine across each series.
Amazon - http://author.to/AdeleClee
Download the complete Adele Clee reading list here: https://www.adeleclee.com/booklist.html
Amazon - http://author.to/AdeleClee
Download the complete Adele Clee reading list here: https://www.adeleclee.com/booklist.html
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 26, 2022
“Despite all the mistakes I have made, the Lord saw fit to grant me a boon, Miss Wild... In my darkest hour, he sent you.”
4.25 stars!
Even though I absolutely loved the chemistry and dynamic between Sylvester and Nora, the action of the story lost me a little. As always, the "bad guy" is never the obvious suspect, and Adele does a fantastic job of misleading and surprising you with the truth. However, I just wish there had been more focus on Sylvester and Nora's relationship rather than the buzzing back and forth they did. Overall I did ultimately enjoy this installment, just not as much as I had hoped ♡
*ARC provided by the author, and I voluntarily reviewed it*
March 22, 2022
Sit back and enjoy, as you are taken on a journey of secrets, suspense, lies and a hard fought love penned by the talented Adele Clee. She consistently captures the imagination while creating an aura of mystery, filled with emotional characters and at times a gothic feel.
He wants to know what really happened to his wastrel brother and sister in law. Feeling he may be accused of their deaths, he hires an inquiry agent to help him get to the truth. Scarred physically and mentally, he has a hard time trusting....
She has been given the assignment by the head of the Order, who she owes so much to for rescuing her... she agrees to take the case. She also has secrets tightly held but is determined to help reveal the truth.
What is unexpected is the feelings that begin to develop and the danger that exists!! Such a fantastic addition to the fabulous series!!
He wants to know what really happened to his wastrel brother and sister in law. Feeling he may be accused of their deaths, he hires an inquiry agent to help him get to the truth. Scarred physically and mentally, he has a hard time trusting....
She has been given the assignment by the head of the Order, who she owes so much to for rescuing her... she agrees to take the case. She also has secrets tightly held but is determined to help reveal the truth.
What is unexpected is the feelings that begin to develop and the danger that exists!! Such a fantastic addition to the fabulous series!!
March 19, 2022
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
One of my favourite series and authors. Adele Clee never fail to entertain and give all the feelings you expect from a romance.
Her hero in this book is Scarred, damaged but so perfect, her new Lord Sylvester Deville, strong, loving and passionate.
Then you have Miss Honora Wild a member of Lord Daventry’s Order.
These are people you can employ to solve your mysteries.
She herself is in hiding from a father who is cruel and an arrangement or marriage.
The two make a brilliant pair, both trying to stay one step in front of their enemies and to not fall in love.
It’s so good to read.
I wait with baited breath for the next book in the series.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋💋
One of my favourite series and authors. Adele Clee never fail to entertain and give all the feelings you expect from a romance.
Her hero in this book is Scarred, damaged but so perfect, her new Lord Sylvester Deville, strong, loving and passionate.
Then you have Miss Honora Wild a member of Lord Daventry’s Order.
These are people you can employ to solve your mysteries.
She herself is in hiding from a father who is cruel and an arrangement or marriage.
The two make a brilliant pair, both trying to stay one step in front of their enemies and to not fall in love.
It’s so good to read.
I wait with baited breath for the next book in the series.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
March 14, 2022
After running away from her controlling father, Miss Honora Wild is skeptical of her new client. He’s suspected of murder and his scarred countenance is disconcerting enough before one even gets to experience his equally black moods. But her employer believes in the man’s innocence, and she owes him everything, which means Honora must accept the appointment and venture to the lord’s clifftop estate to investigate.
Lord Sylvester Deville would’ve been justified if he did push his ingrate, spendthrift brother off the cliff, and he almost wishes he had since he is being castigated anyway. All of society view his facial scar as proof of his guilt and Sylvester just wants to clear his name and live in peace. He’s not comfortable with a female agent since none of the women in his life have been trustworthy up to this point and he suspects Miss Wild has secrets of her own. Both must learn to see beyond the other’s exterior and put their trust in one another if they hope to survive.
For me, Adele Clee is the undisputed master of metaphor, especially when it comes to setting a gothic scene. I savored this book, specifically watching Sylvester’s heart thaw and come back to life the more time he spent with Honora. I loved that these two were open and honest with one another about their feelings from the start so we as readers get basically a play by play of the growth of those feelings and the development of their relationship beyond that of agent and client. The mystery and suspense aspect here is strong but in balance and I never felt like it overshadowed the romance. If anything, the danger encouraged even more honesty and trust between Sylvester and Honora as they worked to figure out just what was going on at his estate and realized they could rely on only each other. Sylvester and Honora came to one another’s defense in different ways, and I loved that they were truly a team in that respect. Both had been let down by the people in their lives that they should have been able to trust and love so I think that made it even more fulfilling to see their relationship grow as they found unconditional acceptance and trust with each other. Additionally, it was great that Sylvester immediately cleared up any doubts Honora tried to develop about their future together before she could really even have them so we never had to deal with any of the ‘will he, won’t he’ angst that I’ve come to dislike so much. I also thought it was cute that Lucius Daventry finally owned up to his inability to resist matchmaking. This is definitely one of my favorite series and another favorite book for me. I’m excited for Miss Trimble’s story and very glad the series isn’t ending yet.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Lord Sylvester Deville would’ve been justified if he did push his ingrate, spendthrift brother off the cliff, and he almost wishes he had since he is being castigated anyway. All of society view his facial scar as proof of his guilt and Sylvester just wants to clear his name and live in peace. He’s not comfortable with a female agent since none of the women in his life have been trustworthy up to this point and he suspects Miss Wild has secrets of her own. Both must learn to see beyond the other’s exterior and put their trust in one another if they hope to survive.
For me, Adele Clee is the undisputed master of metaphor, especially when it comes to setting a gothic scene. I savored this book, specifically watching Sylvester’s heart thaw and come back to life the more time he spent with Honora. I loved that these two were open and honest with one another about their feelings from the start so we as readers get basically a play by play of the growth of those feelings and the development of their relationship beyond that of agent and client. The mystery and suspense aspect here is strong but in balance and I never felt like it overshadowed the romance. If anything, the danger encouraged even more honesty and trust between Sylvester and Honora as they worked to figure out just what was going on at his estate and realized they could rely on only each other. Sylvester and Honora came to one another’s defense in different ways, and I loved that they were truly a team in that respect. Both had been let down by the people in their lives that they should have been able to trust and love so I think that made it even more fulfilling to see their relationship grow as they found unconditional acceptance and trust with each other. Additionally, it was great that Sylvester immediately cleared up any doubts Honora tried to develop about their future together before she could really even have them so we never had to deal with any of the ‘will he, won’t he’ angst that I’ve come to dislike so much. I also thought it was cute that Lucius Daventry finally owned up to his inability to resist matchmaking. This is definitely one of my favorite series and another favorite book for me. I’m excited for Miss Trimble’s story and very glad the series isn’t ending yet.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
March 22, 2022
I so love Adele Clee’s writing and this book was no exception!
My favorite trope is the scared hero and tenacious heroine (a la Beauty and the Beast) Sylvester is an amazing man that his life was made miserable by his brother which turned into an altercation that gave him the scar. He’s a sensitive man that hides behind a gruff persona. Nora is the perfect heroine she does have her own demons to deal with but she brings softness and love that he’s been craving for.
I truly enjoyed this one and I hope you do as well!
Now I’m looking forward to Miss Trimles story!
Adele Clee is one of my favorite authors a truly talented author that knows how to weave a magical web that draws the reader in!
I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own
My favorite trope is the scared hero and tenacious heroine (a la Beauty and the Beast) Sylvester is an amazing man that his life was made miserable by his brother which turned into an altercation that gave him the scar. He’s a sensitive man that hides behind a gruff persona. Nora is the perfect heroine she does have her own demons to deal with but she brings softness and love that he’s been craving for.
I truly enjoyed this one and I hope you do as well!
Now I’m looking forward to Miss Trimles story!
Adele Clee is one of my favorite authors a truly talented author that knows how to weave a magical web that draws the reader in!
I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own
March 16, 2022
Adele never seizes to capture my attention with each and every time she puts out a new story. And with each every new book gets just as excellent as the previous one. Her books always have mystery, laughter and a happily ever after.
Sylvester is innocent of the crime that society thinks he committed but needs help to prove that he is innocent and with the help of Miss Wild not only is his innocence proven but he finds he is capable of being happy, secure and loved. And she finds that she feels more confident, safe, happy and strong with him. Two people who were wronged by the people closest to them, heal each other.
I received this as a gift from the Author in exchange for an honest review and these are purely my thoughts and no one else's views.
Sylvester is innocent of the crime that society thinks he committed but needs help to prove that he is innocent and with the help of Miss Wild not only is his innocence proven but he finds he is capable of being happy, secure and loved. And she finds that she feels more confident, safe, happy and strong with him. Two people who were wronged by the people closest to them, heal each other.
I received this as a gift from the Author in exchange for an honest review and these are purely my thoughts and no one else's views.
October 24, 2023
5 STARS, MYSTERY, MURDER, SMUGGLING
Adele Clue just keeps on producing 5 STARS material in her series about the Order & doesn't let us down on Ladies of the Order Book 4. Here Dave entry's Lady agent: Honora Wild also called Nora is put on the case of who killed Felix Deville & what happened to his wife for the current Lord Deville, Sylvester. There is a great BLURB provided with this book. The characters are entertaining and add also to the storyline.
There is lots of drama & mystery in this well written storyline that will keep the reader glued to the pages they are reading. Situations will surprise the reader but it's like getting a present out of nowhere. It does make an interesting twist.
Both of our main characters are broken & had somewhat lonely upbringings so they can relate to each other on a deaper level than other people. Sylvester's facial scar & Nora's deep fear of being taken over, smothered is hard for them to know how to proceed with the other. However their own body chemistry works in their favor in this instance & pulls them together whether they like it or not.
A wonderful interesting read to solve the murder or accidental death of Felix & the disappearance of his wife for his brother, Lord Sylvester Deville. Also to solve t mystery of his Estate which is an old castle on a sea side cliff. Then, is the budding relationship between Nora & Sylvester be more than friends & lovers is such a delicious delightful thing to! discover. So get a copy, either borrow or buy one because you don't want to miss this moving story.
RECOMMEND WARNING SEXUAL ACTIVITY INSIDE
RECOMMEND
Adele Clue just keeps on producing 5 STARS material in her series about the Order & doesn't let us down on Ladies of the Order Book 4. Here Dave entry's Lady agent: Honora Wild also called Nora is put on the case of who killed Felix Deville & what happened to his wife for the current Lord Deville, Sylvester. There is a great BLURB provided with this book. The characters are entertaining and add also to the storyline.
There is lots of drama & mystery in this well written storyline that will keep the reader glued to the pages they are reading. Situations will surprise the reader but it's like getting a present out of nowhere. It does make an interesting twist.
Both of our main characters are broken & had somewhat lonely upbringings so they can relate to each other on a deaper level than other people. Sylvester's facial scar & Nora's deep fear of being taken over, smothered is hard for them to know how to proceed with the other. However their own body chemistry works in their favor in this instance & pulls them together whether they like it or not.
A wonderful interesting read to solve the murder or accidental death of Felix & the disappearance of his wife for his brother, Lord Sylvester Deville. Also to solve t mystery of his Estate which is an old castle on a sea side cliff. Then, is the budding relationship between Nora & Sylvester be more than friends & lovers is such a delicious delightful thing to! discover. So get a copy, either borrow or buy one because you don't want to miss this moving story.
RECOMMEND WARNING SEXUAL ACTIVITY INSIDE
RECOMMEND
April 11, 2022
Once an enquiry agent that got her first case fell madly in love with her client.
An enquiry agent hiding from her past.
When Miss Honora Wild meets her first client, she fears there has been a dreadful mistake. Having escaped from a domineering father, she shouldn’t have to work for a man suspected of murder, one whose mood matches his frightening facial scar. She shouldn’t have to venture to his clifftop castle to prove the devil is innocent of the crime. But she owes her employer a great debt and has no option but to accept the assignment.
A lord plagued by injustice.
Lord Deville, had every reason to murder his brother and almost wished he had pushed the fool off the cliff. Society sees Sylvester’s disfigurement as a sign of guilt, and he’s desperate to clear his name. He had known to expect a female agent, but devious women have been the bane of his existence, and he suspects Miss Wild is hiding a wicked secret beneath her timid facade.
Will Honora learn to see beyond Sylvester’s intimidating persona?
Will Sylvester learn to trust a woman who’s not been entirely honest?
Sylvester and Honora are meant to be together!
Adele Clee has written another fine story.
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
An enquiry agent hiding from her past.
When Miss Honora Wild meets her first client, she fears there has been a dreadful mistake. Having escaped from a domineering father, she shouldn’t have to work for a man suspected of murder, one whose mood matches his frightening facial scar. She shouldn’t have to venture to his clifftop castle to prove the devil is innocent of the crime. But she owes her employer a great debt and has no option but to accept the assignment.
A lord plagued by injustice.
Lord Deville, had every reason to murder his brother and almost wished he had pushed the fool off the cliff. Society sees Sylvester’s disfigurement as a sign of guilt, and he’s desperate to clear his name. He had known to expect a female agent, but devious women have been the bane of his existence, and he suspects Miss Wild is hiding a wicked secret beneath her timid facade.
Will Honora learn to see beyond Sylvester’s intimidating persona?
Will Sylvester learn to trust a woman who’s not been entirely honest?
Sylvester and Honora are meant to be together!
Adele Clee has written another fine story.
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
April 15, 2022
Adele Clee outdid herself again. I’ve been reading her books since 2016. This is my 30th book by her.
I am TOTALLY loving this series. I couldn’t put this book down either, just like the others.
I loved Honora and Sylvester. What great characters. I really enjoyed reading their story.
Another great read.
I am TOTALLY loving this series. I couldn’t put this book down either, just like the others.
I loved Honora and Sylvester. What great characters. I really enjoyed reading their story.
Another great read.
April 16, 2022
FLOVED IT
Clee made my heart sing in this the forth book of her Ladies of the Order series. Nora is the heroine running from her past. Sylvester is the scarred hero, seeking justice. The book is set in a dark Norman castle along the coast, with lots of romantic intrigue to have kept me reading all day. Great story and romance. Clee books should really be on everyone’s need read pile.
Clee made my heart sing in this the forth book of her Ladies of the Order series. Nora is the heroine running from her past. Sylvester is the scarred hero, seeking justice. The book is set in a dark Norman castle along the coast, with lots of romantic intrigue to have kept me reading all day. Great story and romance. Clee books should really be on everyone’s need read pile.
March 14, 2022
Daventry, master of The Order has assigned Miss Honoara Wild, enquiry agent to Lord Deville's case, if they both agree. He needs to discover who killed his older brother Felix, and she is escaping from her past. Can either find redemption.
An entertaining, and well-written historical mystery and romance story with mature content. The main characters are a likeable and interesting pair. This is another enjoyable addition to this series.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via BooksFunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An entertaining, and well-written historical mystery and romance story with mature content. The main characters are a likeable and interesting pair. This is another enjoyable addition to this series.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via BooksFunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 18, 2022
Your Scarred Heart is the fourth instalment in Adele Clee’s Ladies of the Order series. The Order is a discreet society of gentlemen dedicated to helping the vulnerable and needy in society founded by Lucius Daventry. This is a spin-off series which follows the ladies employed by Daventry as part of his secretive Order. Whilst the gentlemen of the order are bound to help the poor and helpless for free, the ladies employed by Lucius Daventry are permitted to take on paying clients.
Miss Honora Wild is outwardly the most timid of Daventry’s lady enquiry agents. Rescued from a traumatic situation by Lucius Daventry after running away from home and her controlling father she is determined to prove her worth. Her first case for the order is one that will really test her mettle. Hired by the forbidding and scarred Lord Deville, she is tasked with proving his innocence in the case of his brother’s murder. Despite her apprehension and his brusque manner there is something about Lord Deville that compels her to do her utmost to clear his name.
Sylvester, Lord Deville has little faith in the integrity of women but he has no choice but to employ Miss Wild when society brands him a murderer – his scarred visage doesn’t help either. He desperately needs to clear his name and Miss Wild is his only hope. Sylvester senses that Miss Wild’s timid façade hides a secret but he will have to overcome his suspicions and learn to place his trust in a female.
They travel to his clifftop estate to investigate what did happen that fateful night. Working together Sylvester and Nora discover that first impressions can be deceiving and their tentative partnership leads to a deep and abiding love.
I really liked Nora and Sylvester as a couple. What I love about Adele is that her protagonists are on the whole open and honest with each other and there are rarely the unnecessary misunderstandings found in a lot of romance novels. Nora and Sylvester talk to each other, and it is nice to see their relationship and feelings develop. You can see when Nora starts to trust Sylvester enough to reveal her secrets and the difference Nora brings to Sylvester’s life. She is a calming influence on him and he learns to appreciate life again.
As with all of Adele’s books this is a fast paced and entertaining story with a strong mystery element. The mystery sits alongside the developing romance between Nora and Sylvester and it didn’t feel as though the romance took second place. There are twists and turns and plenty to keep the reader entertained. I also loved that it was acknowledged that Daventry is a very unlikely matchmaker!
This is one of my favourites of the series and I look forward to the next installment. I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
Miss Honora Wild is outwardly the most timid of Daventry’s lady enquiry agents. Rescued from a traumatic situation by Lucius Daventry after running away from home and her controlling father she is determined to prove her worth. Her first case for the order is one that will really test her mettle. Hired by the forbidding and scarred Lord Deville, she is tasked with proving his innocence in the case of his brother’s murder. Despite her apprehension and his brusque manner there is something about Lord Deville that compels her to do her utmost to clear his name.
Sylvester, Lord Deville has little faith in the integrity of women but he has no choice but to employ Miss Wild when society brands him a murderer – his scarred visage doesn’t help either. He desperately needs to clear his name and Miss Wild is his only hope. Sylvester senses that Miss Wild’s timid façade hides a secret but he will have to overcome his suspicions and learn to place his trust in a female.
They travel to his clifftop estate to investigate what did happen that fateful night. Working together Sylvester and Nora discover that first impressions can be deceiving and their tentative partnership leads to a deep and abiding love.
I really liked Nora and Sylvester as a couple. What I love about Adele is that her protagonists are on the whole open and honest with each other and there are rarely the unnecessary misunderstandings found in a lot of romance novels. Nora and Sylvester talk to each other, and it is nice to see their relationship and feelings develop. You can see when Nora starts to trust Sylvester enough to reveal her secrets and the difference Nora brings to Sylvester’s life. She is a calming influence on him and he learns to appreciate life again.
As with all of Adele’s books this is a fast paced and entertaining story with a strong mystery element. The mystery sits alongside the developing romance between Nora and Sylvester and it didn’t feel as though the romance took second place. There are twists and turns and plenty to keep the reader entertained. I also loved that it was acknowledged that Daventry is a very unlikely matchmaker!
This is one of my favourites of the series and I look forward to the next installment. I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
March 21, 2022
“Your Scarred Heart” is a book I would give 6 stars to if I could! It’s the 4th book in the ‘Ladies of the Order’ series by Adele Clee. You can read and enjoy this book as a standalone, but once you read it be aware that you’re going to want to go back and read the other books in the series.
I’m finding this review particularly tricky to write, because as much as I want to share a lot about the book, I don’t want to share much at all. There are so many layers to the story that it’s best for you to experience them the way the author intended. I truthfully could not put it down once I started reading.
Nora is fleeing an incredibly difficult past. She lives in fear of several different terrible things catching up to her. The one stroke of good luck she’s had in her life is the opportunity to work as an inquiry agent. Much to her dismay, her first client is terribly scarred, and suspected of having murdered both his brother and his sister-in law. Sylvester hates his scar, the terrible reason for it, and what it has done to his life. The anger and frustration that consumes him fills his every moment. When he wants to hire an enquiry agent, he’s aware that he’s being assigned a female agent; that itself is difficult because he no longer trusts women at all. Further complicating everything for Nora and Sylvester is the incredible attraction they feel for one another.
This book is beautifully written. The torment of the lead characters is conveyed so well that you feel their emotions. The descriptions in the book are so finally crafted that you can picture everything happening as if you were in their reality. Secondary characters are multifaceted and add immeasurably to the story. As the tension continually builds, there are twists and turns throughout, several of which I never expected. The lead characters change and grow as a result of their connection, and it’s a wonderful experience for the reader.
I read an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my thoughts and opinions. I also purchased a copy on Amazon.
I’m finding this review particularly tricky to write, because as much as I want to share a lot about the book, I don’t want to share much at all. There are so many layers to the story that it’s best for you to experience them the way the author intended. I truthfully could not put it down once I started reading.
Nora is fleeing an incredibly difficult past. She lives in fear of several different terrible things catching up to her. The one stroke of good luck she’s had in her life is the opportunity to work as an inquiry agent. Much to her dismay, her first client is terribly scarred, and suspected of having murdered both his brother and his sister-in law. Sylvester hates his scar, the terrible reason for it, and what it has done to his life. The anger and frustration that consumes him fills his every moment. When he wants to hire an enquiry agent, he’s aware that he’s being assigned a female agent; that itself is difficult because he no longer trusts women at all. Further complicating everything for Nora and Sylvester is the incredible attraction they feel for one another.
This book is beautifully written. The torment of the lead characters is conveyed so well that you feel their emotions. The descriptions in the book are so finally crafted that you can picture everything happening as if you were in their reality. Secondary characters are multifaceted and add immeasurably to the story. As the tension continually builds, there are twists and turns throughout, several of which I never expected. The lead characters change and grow as a result of their connection, and it’s a wonderful experience for the reader.
I read an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my thoughts and opinions. I also purchased a copy on Amazon.
March 19, 2022
Miss Honora (Nora) Wild is a lovely, innocent daughter of a vicar, who has managed to escaped & hide from her controlling father who was going to force her into an unwanted marriage. She has found her way to London & has been taken in by Master of the order, Mr. Daventry, for training to become one of the Ladies of the Order enquiry agents. She is now ready for her first client - a man suspected of murdering his brother & sister-in-law but needs a female agent to prove his innocence. Nora is skeptical of this scarred lord but trusts Mr. Daventry's belief in him & she owes him for saving her from the street, so she must venture with the brooding, angry lord to his clifftop estate to work on finding clues to prove his innocence.
After being banned from his family for years & going to Italy to continue working for the Home Office, Lord Sylvester Deville needs to return home after his brother & sister-in-law are murdered. Society has deemed his facial scar a mark of guilt for the murders, but he has not yet been formally charged & after all his brother did to him, he is very justified in pushing his brother off the cliff, but he did not & needs to prove it. Now, Daventry's choice is to bring a mere slip of a girl to do battle with Joanna, the sister-in-law, Deville believes to be alive.
Sylvester & Nora's wild adventure starts here when they arrive at his estate; many situations occur including, lies, deceit, extortion, murder, multiple suspects, kidnapping, illegal smuggling but there was still room for the couple's growing trust, friendship, honesty, romance, some spice & a HEA that kept me turning pages to the end. This, as always with this author, was well-written, fast paced with wonderful characters & some real evil doers! I highly recommend this Book 4 & the entire series. I voluntarily read & reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book; all thoughts & opinions are my own.
After being banned from his family for years & going to Italy to continue working for the Home Office, Lord Sylvester Deville needs to return home after his brother & sister-in-law are murdered. Society has deemed his facial scar a mark of guilt for the murders, but he has not yet been formally charged & after all his brother did to him, he is very justified in pushing his brother off the cliff, but he did not & needs to prove it. Now, Daventry's choice is to bring a mere slip of a girl to do battle with Joanna, the sister-in-law, Deville believes to be alive.
Sylvester & Nora's wild adventure starts here when they arrive at his estate; many situations occur including, lies, deceit, extortion, murder, multiple suspects, kidnapping, illegal smuggling but there was still room for the couple's growing trust, friendship, honesty, romance, some spice & a HEA that kept me turning pages to the end. This, as always with this author, was well-written, fast paced with wonderful characters & some real evil doers! I highly recommend this Book 4 & the entire series. I voluntarily read & reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book; all thoughts & opinions are my own.
March 23, 2022
I love, love, love this story !! I have read all of the books in this series and they just keep getting better and better.
I always think the one am reading is my favorite but then the next book comes out.
Sylvester Deville has had a hard life since he was a child and outcast from his own family. A lie changed his life.
Now that he is back in England and the new Lord Deville. He has called on Mr. Daventry for an enquiry agent. He needs to find out how his brother, sister-in-law and mother died or were killed. He is suspected of murdering his brother !!
He is shocked when he meets with Mr. Daventry and the agent. It's a slip of a woman who appears frightful and young.
Miss Honora Wild is hiding from her father who is an evil tyrant. She has lived in fear most of her life.
She owes much to Mr. Daventry and knows she needs to solve this case for him no matter how fearful Lord Deville is.
He is a Hugh man with scar on one side of his face. One can tell he is holding many secrets within.
Honora is also hiding secrets and a past too.
As they work together Honora tells Sylvester that all of Mr. Daventry agents married their clients. She wanted him to know so they would be watchful of the attraction between them.
This is such a great story, suspenseful, mystery, lots of twist and turns. From servant's hiding thing and keeping secrets
and strange going ones in the house. These two find they have a lot more in common than anyone thought,
The ending will take you by surprise too. Once you start reading you will not be able to put this book down.
I received and ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.
All books in this series can be read as stand-alone but so much better read in order...
I can't wait for the next book.
I always think the one am reading is my favorite but then the next book comes out.
Sylvester Deville has had a hard life since he was a child and outcast from his own family. A lie changed his life.
Now that he is back in England and the new Lord Deville. He has called on Mr. Daventry for an enquiry agent. He needs to find out how his brother, sister-in-law and mother died or were killed. He is suspected of murdering his brother !!
He is shocked when he meets with Mr. Daventry and the agent. It's a slip of a woman who appears frightful and young.
Miss Honora Wild is hiding from her father who is an evil tyrant. She has lived in fear most of her life.
She owes much to Mr. Daventry and knows she needs to solve this case for him no matter how fearful Lord Deville is.
He is a Hugh man with scar on one side of his face. One can tell he is holding many secrets within.
Honora is also hiding secrets and a past too.
As they work together Honora tells Sylvester that all of Mr. Daventry agents married their clients. She wanted him to know so they would be watchful of the attraction between them.
This is such a great story, suspenseful, mystery, lots of twist and turns. From servant's hiding thing and keeping secrets
and strange going ones in the house. These two find they have a lot more in common than anyone thought,
The ending will take you by surprise too. Once you start reading you will not be able to put this book down.
I received and ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.
All books in this series can be read as stand-alone but so much better read in order...
I can't wait for the next book.
March 21, 2022
The perfect blend of romance entwined mystery!!
Another captivating story from Clee, full of cleverly written twists and revelations I just didn't see coming. As a partnership, between two such wounded and badly let down souls, join forces to unlock deadly betrayals. While grasping at the one spark of hope their developing trust provides as love sparks and slowly blossoms from intense intrigue, deep attraction and budding friendship and dependency.
An estate overshadowed by its choking secrets, tight lipped servants, devious scheming and murder, cloaked this tale with a gothic air of mystery, suspense and engrossing intrigue. While the hero and heroine, Sylvester and Nora, provide the warmth, fun and a wealth of emotion to get under your skin and keep you reading. I enjoyed every minute, as they worked together to unravel falsehoods, hunt out answers and fall irredeemably for each other with their delicious sharp wit, clever deductions and sheer gumption.
I just love Clee for her ability to draw you straight into the heart of her characters allowing you to glory in their developing love. As their budding romance becomes so well connected and entwined with the mysteries and suspense afoot that the two elements become so seemlessly entangled and make for one highly enjoyable read.... and YOUR SCARRED HEART achieved this in abundance.
I felt instantly apart of the story never once being told what was happening but shown and interwoven within the drama and adventure right alongside them. I became entangled in their foibles, uncertainties and vulnerabilities as well as their strengths and resourceful intellect as open honesty allowed them to gradually open up old wounds as their hearts melted and they began to flourish in the capturing of self worth their understanding and love provided. A truly fabulous story from a series I can't rate highly enough!!
As a result, I'm really looking forward to Miss Trimble's tale next. I'm so glad we'll get the chance to source out those tantalising rumours surrounding her well kept and extremely intriguing past!!
Another captivating story from Clee, full of cleverly written twists and revelations I just didn't see coming. As a partnership, between two such wounded and badly let down souls, join forces to unlock deadly betrayals. While grasping at the one spark of hope their developing trust provides as love sparks and slowly blossoms from intense intrigue, deep attraction and budding friendship and dependency.
An estate overshadowed by its choking secrets, tight lipped servants, devious scheming and murder, cloaked this tale with a gothic air of mystery, suspense and engrossing intrigue. While the hero and heroine, Sylvester and Nora, provide the warmth, fun and a wealth of emotion to get under your skin and keep you reading. I enjoyed every minute, as they worked together to unravel falsehoods, hunt out answers and fall irredeemably for each other with their delicious sharp wit, clever deductions and sheer gumption.
I just love Clee for her ability to draw you straight into the heart of her characters allowing you to glory in their developing love. As their budding romance becomes so well connected and entwined with the mysteries and suspense afoot that the two elements become so seemlessly entangled and make for one highly enjoyable read.... and YOUR SCARRED HEART achieved this in abundance.
I felt instantly apart of the story never once being told what was happening but shown and interwoven within the drama and adventure right alongside them. I became entangled in their foibles, uncertainties and vulnerabilities as well as their strengths and resourceful intellect as open honesty allowed them to gradually open up old wounds as their hearts melted and they began to flourish in the capturing of self worth their understanding and love provided. A truly fabulous story from a series I can't rate highly enough!!
As a result, I'm really looking forward to Miss Trimble's tale next. I'm so glad we'll get the chance to source out those tantalising rumours surrounding her well kept and extremely intriguing past!!
May 9, 2022
Your Scarred Heart weaves a story from beginning to end with threads of danger, intrigue, murder, and mystery. Adele Clee has given readers a book that is Gripping and Suspenseful. Both Honora Wilds and Lord Deville find themselves working together for the good of The Order. They both find it hard to concentrate on clearing Lord Deville name of murdering his brother as right from the start sparks beginning to fly between the two of them, verbally and physically, and soon turn into sizzling passion. With Lord Deville's staff all acting suspicious finding answers to the mystery of his brothers death maybe impossible. Adele Clee has written a whodunit full of mystery that comes together perfectly, with a story line that kept me interested right to the end and wanting more.! Her characters come to life as you find yourself drawn into their story, the scenes are so strikingly detailed it paints an incredible backdrop that makes you feel like you are one with the story. Adele's stories always leaves you anxiously waiting for the next one in the series.
March 22, 2022
I was happy to read an advance copy of The Scarred Heart, which is Adele Clee’s newest book in her Ladies of the Order series. Her books are always so well-written, & pull me in immediately. This one has a bit of a Beauty & the Beast love story mixed in with the usual intriguing mystery to be solved.
Daventry once again perfectly matches his agent with her client-in-need, & the chemistry is apparent early on.
Lord Deville wears some of his scars on the outside, but Honora Wild has plenty of her own hidden under her reserved demeanor. Finding they work well together, they come to respect & care deeply for each other as they try to solve what turns out to be a very complicated case. From the start, it’s apparent that something is seriously wrong when they arrive @ Lord Deville’s seaside estate. Everyone is on edge, & no one seems to be telling the truth. The story that unfolds is a serious page-turner.
Daventry once again perfectly matches his agent with her client-in-need, & the chemistry is apparent early on.
Lord Deville wears some of his scars on the outside, but Honora Wild has plenty of her own hidden under her reserved demeanor. Finding they work well together, they come to respect & care deeply for each other as they try to solve what turns out to be a very complicated case. From the start, it’s apparent that something is seriously wrong when they arrive @ Lord Deville’s seaside estate. Everyone is on edge, & no one seems to be telling the truth. The story that unfolds is a serious page-turner.
March 21, 2022
Scarred, Sexy and oh so Sweet
I absolutely love strong lead characters, especially when they both carry emotional and/or physical scars. Now place the characters in a seaside ancient castle, on a cliff, with a mystery to solve, and you know you're in for a do-not-disturb-me treat.
Your Scarred Heart by Adele Clee is just such a stand-alone read. It has scarred, sexy and oh so sweet characters, unbridled passion, a shadowy setting, a hard to solve mystery and a very satisfying ending. What more can a romance loving reader want?
Great job Ms. Clee. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Content 411: In addition to some mild swearing, there is also lots of passionate kissing, a couple of sexually intimate scenes as well as lustful thoughts and talk.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.
I absolutely love strong lead characters, especially when they both carry emotional and/or physical scars. Now place the characters in a seaside ancient castle, on a cliff, with a mystery to solve, and you know you're in for a do-not-disturb-me treat.
Your Scarred Heart by Adele Clee is just such a stand-alone read. It has scarred, sexy and oh so sweet characters, unbridled passion, a shadowy setting, a hard to solve mystery and a very satisfying ending. What more can a romance loving reader want?
Great job Ms. Clee. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Content 411: In addition to some mild swearing, there is also lots of passionate kissing, a couple of sexually intimate scenes as well as lustful thoughts and talk.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.
March 25, 2022
The series continues with this exciting and gothic style romantic mystery.
Lord Deville is the scarred hero who needs to find out what really happened to his brother and sister in law. Now is assigned the task of investigating with him. Lord Deville's estate provides a dark and gothic backdrop with dungeons, caves, storms and a whole house full of strange servants. There are plenty of questionable characters and the author does a great job of distracting you from the real culprit.
This was an exciting and romantic read. The initial scene at the auction where Deville was trying to buy back his pianoforte put a smile on my face as did Daventry's quip at the end of the book in relation to it.
Deville and Nora's relationship was sweet and endearing. They are both scarred and wary but they find their soul mate in each other.
A great addition to a fantastic series.
Lord Deville is the scarred hero who needs to find out what really happened to his brother and sister in law. Now is assigned the task of investigating with him. Lord Deville's estate provides a dark and gothic backdrop with dungeons, caves, storms and a whole house full of strange servants. There are plenty of questionable characters and the author does a great job of distracting you from the real culprit.
This was an exciting and romantic read. The initial scene at the auction where Deville was trying to buy back his pianoforte put a smile on my face as did Daventry's quip at the end of the book in relation to it.
Deville and Nora's relationship was sweet and endearing. They are both scarred and wary but they find their soul mate in each other.
A great addition to a fantastic series.
November 6, 2022
Your Scarred Heart by Adele Clee is a very enjoyable book. I love this series and this book was a great addition. I cannot wait to see what is in store for Miss.Timble. I really liked Nora, I think she was a well written character. Although, I would have liked to know more about her past, it was only brushed on. The plot was great and the twist was amazing, I never saw it coming. Your Scarred Heart was pretty well paced, but I thought that the ending was a bit rushed. I wish that we could have seen some of the other characters from the past few books, it would have been great to see how they were doing. While Deville was not my favorite of the men in this series, I thought that his and Nora’s chemistry was great. I really enjoyed their first interaction with the harp. Overall, I quite enjoyed You Scarred Heart, it was a quick and easy page-turner.
March 13, 2022
Adele’s writing is so good and her stories are so engaging. I love a scarred hero and Sylvester epitomizes the scarred hero. He is grumpy but needs help. As always with Adele’s stories there is a mystery with twists and turns that I guarantee you do not see coming. I love a good mystery and this one delivers. Adele’s heroines are always strong and know what they want in life. Sylvester and Nora are such great characters and have fantastic chemistry. The story pulls you in and reading in one sitting is not a choice, it is a must that you have to know what happens next. I have said this before and will say it again, if you have not tried one of Adele’s books give her a try. Any book is a good place to start.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
March 14, 2022
Even Better than the Previous One!
That was a fabulous finish to a really good story with all the loose ends neatly tied up and an exciting teaser for the next book.
The series is proving to be so much more than I thought it would be. It has adventure and excitement and characters that fall in love while doing their jobs.
This particular story had me entranced from the very first page. There were times that I had to reluctantly force myself to stop reading so that I could do something more mundane, like eat or sleep and what a pain that was!
So that there is no possibility of a misunderstanding, read this book! You will enjoy it.
I read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) and this is my voluntary and unbiased review of it.
That was a fabulous finish to a really good story with all the loose ends neatly tied up and an exciting teaser for the next book.
The series is proving to be so much more than I thought it would be. It has adventure and excitement and characters that fall in love while doing their jobs.
This particular story had me entranced from the very first page. There were times that I had to reluctantly force myself to stop reading so that I could do something more mundane, like eat or sleep and what a pain that was!
So that there is no possibility of a misunderstanding, read this book! You will enjoy it.
I read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) and this is my voluntary and unbiased review of it.
March 12, 2022
Well, this installment had me turning page after page until I reached the very satisfying ending.
Mr. Daventry's talent as a matchmaker is now an open secret. When he assigns Honora Wild to Sylvester Deville's case, she has no intention of falling in line Daventry's unspoken scheme. She also warns her client, but then mutual attraction gets in the way of her plans. Both H and h have emotional scars to heal. In addition to the romance, Adele Clee has again spun an interesting, well-paced mystery with unexpected turns and revelations.
I read an advance copy; the thoughts expressed are my own.
Mr. Daventry's talent as a matchmaker is now an open secret. When he assigns Honora Wild to Sylvester Deville's case, she has no intention of falling in line Daventry's unspoken scheme. She also warns her client, but then mutual attraction gets in the way of her plans. Both H and h have emotional scars to heal. In addition to the romance, Adele Clee has again spun an interesting, well-paced mystery with unexpected turns and revelations.
I read an advance copy; the thoughts expressed are my own.
March 15, 2022
This is the 4th book in the series Ladies of the Order, and it was a wonderful addition to the previous books. Lord Sylvester Deville is accused of murdering his brother and wants to clear his name. his has a strong dominant personality and has a disfigurement which helps people believe he is a murder. Honora works for the Order, and her first assignment is to help clear Lord Deville’s name. This book like the others in this series has romance and mystery. Adele Clee writes a story that you want to finish as soon as possible, it is that good. I really enjoy this book and this series.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my honest opinion.
April 12, 2022
As usual, Adele Clee has woven an interesting, intelligent web of secrets. She knows exactly how to design plot twists so that they take you by surprise but you're not rolling your eyes in incredulity. She also does a great job building an effectively eerie gothic setting.
The only reason I'm not giving the full 5 stars is the lack of chemistry between the MC's. I can't put my finger on it, but a spark was missing. This is not a "sweet and clean" romance; a sexual relationship starts around the 65% mark, but it didn't quite gel for me. I think the MC's actually worked better as friends.
Overall, though, this is a great read if you enjoy Regency mystery/romances.
The only reason I'm not giving the full 5 stars is the lack of chemistry between the MC's. I can't put my finger on it, but a spark was missing. This is not a "sweet and clean" romance; a sexual relationship starts around the 65% mark, but it didn't quite gel for me. I think the MC's actually worked better as friends.
Overall, though, this is a great read if you enjoy Regency mystery/romances.
December 6, 2022
Hiding from the truth
I absolutely loved Nora and Sylvester’s story. Sylvester fears his sister-in-law is still alive and threatening him. He hired an inquiry agent to assist in proving he did not murder his brother. But there is more afoot than anyone knows.
Nora escaped her vicar fathers clutches, worked in a pleasure house and is now an inquiry agent for the order. She’s been hired for her first case and warns the customer Lord Deville that her boss is a romantic matchmaker. Both vow not to fall for Daventrys match making schemes.
A wonderful story with a beautiful ending.
I absolutely loved Nora and Sylvester’s story. Sylvester fears his sister-in-law is still alive and threatening him. He hired an inquiry agent to assist in proving he did not murder his brother. But there is more afoot than anyone knows.
Nora escaped her vicar fathers clutches, worked in a pleasure house and is now an inquiry agent for the order. She’s been hired for her first case and warns the customer Lord Deville that her boss is a romantic matchmaker. Both vow not to fall for Daventrys match making schemes.
A wonderful story with a beautiful ending.
March 21, 2022
A great story full of mystery, twists and turns, betrayal, lies, humour and love. Nora has escaped her cruel father and then barely escaped unscathed from her first lodgings. She has been rescued by the Order and given her first assignment. Sylvester, Lord Deville carries a nasty scar on his face, deep wounds to his heart and has the suspicion of being a murderer hanging over him. Two broken souls working together to unravel the truth. A great story. I received a copy from the author and I am leaving a voluntary review.
March 27, 2022
Another brilliant instalment in this series. There is always such a clever balance of mystery, intrigue and romance. I love the characters of the women who have had to face and overcome adversity and the male characters who offer love, support and strength! In this case Nora and Sylvester are truly good for one another. The plot is interesting and has plenty of surprises which you don’t see coming. The setting of this book at Highcliff adds a further dimension of mystery and gothic horror to a certain extent. A great read.
September 4, 2022
Another winner! Whenever I pick up a book written by Ms. Clee, I know I'm in for a treat. 'Your Scarred Heart' is no different. We get a great setting - a cliff-top estate. It's perfect for this gothic mystery with plenty of surprises and misleadings. There are secrets and lies, suspense, danger, and, of course, love. There is amazing chemistry between H and h. And emotions are plenty and deep with many of the characters in this story. Ms. Clee has outdone herself again! I highly recommend that mystery lovers read not just this book but the whole series. It's well worth your time.
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