He knew he could never have her…From the very moment Agnes Watkins walked into his life, Fletcher Banks, Earl of Wakefield, has wanted her. Agnes is not just beautiful, she’s clever and determined. Despite her uncommon beauty, she refuses to conform to society’s standards. She’s also the sister of the man who holds Fletcher’s career as a spy in his hands. And that makes her completely … completely off-limits.
She thought she could change him…
Tall, impossibly broad, and handsome as a sin, Fletcher Banks is a brazen scoundrel. Known for his reputation as the greatest lover in London, he’s the only man who’s ever proved a temptation for Agnes. Her duties with the Ladies of Virtue means she can’t overlook his lustful ways. The time has come to reform this rake.
Together their desire is undeniable.
With Agnes setting her virtuous sights on him, Fletcher can’t ignore her any longer. Maybe spending more time with her will release him from his infatuation with her without falling further from her brother’s good graces. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to deny that this infatuation may be more than lust…
Each book in the Lords of Vice series is STANDALONE:
* The Scoundrel and the Lady
* The Marquess and the Maiden
* The Earl and the Reluctant Lady
more
I love the fact that Robin DeHart has managed to seamlessly integrate the stories in the Lord of Vice Series together. They are taking place simultaneously and without giving away plot lines and outcomes she is able to keep the storyline and characters running alongside each other in the same direction.
This is Fletcher and Agnes’ story. She is a pragmatist and he is a flirt. Both have been hurt by the indifference shown to them by their parents and believe that love and marriage are not in their futures. From the moment they meet they are drawn to each other and develop a friendship of sorts. When Agnes finds herself in danger, her brother puts Fletcher in charge of watching over her. This task leads to more close encounters and a chance to explore a deeper relationship.
The Earl and the Reluctant Lady (ebook) by Robyn DeHart ..this is the 3rd LORDS OF VICE book and I want to thank the Robyn for letting me preview this book. Agnes Watkins (member o Ladies of Virtue and is against marriage) Fletcher Banks (Earl of Wakefield works for the 7 ..also against marriage) This books is full of adventure, danger, relatives who are not very nice, some laughs and tears, a stalker, steamy sex and a very HEA… Who will be the next Lord of Vice? and who is Lady X?
This beautifully written story grabbed my heart and did not let go. Upon first sight, Fletcher, Earl of Wakefield saw her at a ball from a distance and knew he had to meet her. Unbeknownst to him, Agnes is the sister of the man who holds his job as a spy in his hands. Agnes is of course attracted to him as well, but with a warning he stays away and does not see her until three years later!
A reputed rake and scoundrel, Fletcher plays his role well in getting information out of women for the good of the country. What you say? Well somebody has got to do it and he is a master of seduction. But when he sees Agnes again, he just cannot resist!!
These two characters came alive with the wonderful words of Robyn Dehart. She captured my imagination with the storyline and I could not wait to see what happened! When they were together, sparks seemed to fly and they could not keep their feelings contained.
Prepare to be delighted in this next installment of this amazing series!!
Wow… What a great book! The Earl and the Reluctant Lady by Robyn DeHart is book 3 in the Lord of Vice series. This is my first book I have read of Robyn’s but it won’t be the last and of course I have to get book 1 and 2 in this series so I can catch up. There is nothing better than finding a new author and I so enjoyed this story. Though this book is a part of a series it can be read as a standalone. Robyn has created such wonderful regency characters that I found myself cheering for them. Her descriptions are right on for that era and so clear and easy to picture. The story has a scandalous mother, secret society, protection, a rake and a rogue, friendships, over protective brother, creating weapons, a secret job, skepticism, misunderstandings, kindness, caring, a secret admirer, an enemy, madness and yes, love. For me this was such a wonderful surprise on how much I enjoyed this story and I highly recommend this book!!
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
From the very moment Agnes Watkins walked into his life, Fletcher Banks, Earl of Wakefield, has wanted her. Agnes is not just beautiful, she’s clever and determined. Despite her uncommon beauty, she refuses to conform to society’s standards. She’s also the sister of Christopher the man who holds Fletcher’s career as a spy in his hands & Christopher warns Fletcher off in no uncertain terms. Tall, impossibly broad, and handsome as a sin, Fletcher Banks is a brazen scoundrel. Known for his reputation as the greatest lover in London, he’s the only man who’s ever proved a temptation for Agnes. Her duties with the Ladies of Virtue means she can’t overlook his lustful ways. Three years have passed & he time has come to reform this rake.
With Agnes setting her virtuous sights on him, Fletcher can’t ignore her any longer. Especially when she starts to receive disturbing letters, Chris asks Fletcher to guard .
A well written engrossing read, this is the third book in the series & easily stands on its own, some of the timeframe is parallel to the second book, which I found an added bonus. I loved both Agnes & Fletcher & how they denied their feelings for so long even though their attraction sizzled but they could also talk to each other & liked each other too. I look forward to more in the series after all there are seven sins & of course Matilda & Sullivan disliking one another so much has to be a story
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Fletcher Banks, Earl of Wakefield, has no power with his title. His grandfather is the Duke while his father holds the Marquess title. Fletcher needs to earn a living until his elders die. He uses his charm and wit to seduce secrets for the Home Office, but when he meets Agnes Watkins, he realizes that he his tired of being the government’s Rake-for-Hire. The problem is her brother is his supervisor and he needs his approval to keep his job. For three years he keeps away from Agnes until circumstances throw the two together and all bets are off.
Agnes isn’t you average fading wallflower. She is a member of the Ladies of Virtue, a group of select woman who are trained to fight and work their bums off to prove their worth to the ranks of crime fighters. As part of LoV, she takes up the task of making covert weapons for ladies of the ton to protect themselves. A blade concealed in a fan is only one of the many items she’s constructed over the years. She never leaves home without a weapon or two, and she certainly knows just how to use them. Another part of her duties to the LoV is to reform a man from what they see as a deadly sin. Fletcher’s sin is lust and Agnes decides to take him on as her subject.
This is the third book in the series and what is really interesting is the novels take place at the same time. I remember a scene from the second book that came up again in this novel but told from Agnes’ point of view. For an author, this is a very bold choice. How DeHart keeps it all straight is a wonder, but she does and it has worked out beautifully so far.
DeHart weaves her carefully crafted threads and produces a witty, romantic escapade that will have historical romance lovers devouring as fast as they can. There are several more Ladies of Virtue and I’m excited to see what DeHart has in store for each and every one of them!
I received this book for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Ms. DeHart does it again. Fletcher and Agnes each suffer from everyone wanting them but not really. I love Agnes’ role of weapons maker. The women of the Ladies of Virtue are great characters. While reading this story you feel the longing and compassion of Fletcher and Agnes. How can these two people learn that love is real and it happens unexpectedly? Great story, great characters as always. These stories are always feel good stories and I love reading their happy endings.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
From the moment Fletcher Banks, Earl of Wakefield, sees Miss Agnes Watkins, his stomach does a flip-flop and he’s enchanted with her. When he kisses her out in the garden, he’s pretty sure, he’ll never want another woman for the rest of his life, but life has a way of interfering. It turns out Agnes is his boss’s sister and Christopher has forbidden Fletcher from ever touching her again or else he’ll lose his position with the home office. With only a courtesy title, Fletcher has no choice but to back away from Agnes. He has no idea that she is captivated with him as well, but his cool behavior toward her in the years that pass convinces her, what she felt when Fletcher kissed her, was only in her mind. Can these two ever work past everything keeping them apart and finally declare their love for each other?
I truly enjoyed this book. Ms. DeHart writes wonderful characters full of heart and soul. There was enough saucy banter back and forth between Fletcher and Agnes throughout the book, but the fact that Agnes does not truly trust him lands her in all kinds of trouble. The plot moved along well, but I thought the villain was kind of dumb in the end. I won’t say how because I don’t want to spoil the book for any other readers. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Maybe we’ll finally learn the identity of the mysterious Lady X.
While this is the third novel in the series (and there are overlapping story-lines and characters), each book is written as a stand-alone to the point where you do not need to have read the others in order to enjoy this one.
This is the kind of novel that I have come to expect from this author. The characters are engaging and complex (to a point), who have an obvious attraction to each other, but fight it to the point that it becomes tedious.
I fell in love with Fletcher and Agnes (although god what a name) during their first exchange. I loved them even more when it came out that he saved one dance with her each year (on the anniversary of their first).
What I didn’t love?
Fletcher’s unwillingness to stand up to her brother for one thing. If he had felt that strongly about her for that long, he should have been willing to fight for her. Instead he seemed content to do anything but until he figured out that she had feelings for him as well. He claims the men in his life “hurt women”, but we never see any real examples of this. Was it simply because they were unfaithful? We know his Grandfather was a horrid old man, but his father simply seems a man in mourning.
Once again, we are reminded of Lady X and her threat against the Ladies group of which Agnes is a part of, but we still do not know who she is. Only time will tell I suppose.
Overall, I believe this novel will appeal to those who enjoy well written historical novels and I would read more from this author (in fact I am looking forward to completing this series because I need to know how it all ends).
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Interesting story. Recommend
I enjoyed the story of Agnes and Fletcher. Their tale had bits suspense and an instant love, but I wasn’t too keen on the mother’s issues or their lack of communication. The brother was a bit overbearing for me as well, considering he’s the one who sent Fletcher out on his missions. Overall the story was entertaining.
Patti Wissore
During her second London season, viscount’s daughter Agnes Watkins is overshadowed by her own mother, who consistently seeks male attention for herself, relegating the socially awkward Agnes to the position of wallflower, much to her embarrassment. As such, Agnes has given up the hope of marrying, deciding to just stay single and avoid the lie that she believes love is. Fletcher Banks, the Earl of Wakefield, and elite spy, searching the ballrooms for a widow he is assigned to gather information from. Instead of finding the widow, he meets Agnes and is immediately captivated by her. Unfortunately, Agnes’ brother happens to be the man in charge of doling out the assignments to the members of Fletcher’s spy organization and he happens to hate Fletcher. Summarily warned off, Fletcher spends the next few years seducing secrets out of women, but never forgets Agnes. Meanwhile, Agnes, who thought Fletcher could be different, maintains her vow to never marry, becoming rather cynical and joining the Ladies of Virtue group to try to do some good in the world. Starting with convincing Fletcher to reform and give up his lustful ways.
Fletcher flits from widow to widow giving and taking pleasure but nothing more, even though Agnes is the only one he wants, because he believes himself to be undeserving of love. Agnes hides her social awkwardness behind a seemingly cold facade and has convinced herself she doesn’t believe in love because she doesn’t want to end up life her parents, or more specifically like her mother. When a persistent admirer begins to frighten Agnes and threaten her safety, Fletcher realizes he must protect her at all costs, if only he can convince her to allow him.
I really enjoyed this one, it’s a quick read but it kept me engrossed and rooting for this couple. I’d highly recommend it.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Earl and the Reluctant Lady is an enjoyable addition to Robyn DeHart’s Lords of Vice series that features Fletcher Banks, Earl of Wakefield. Fletcher is a member of the Seven and, as a rakish spy for the Crown, uses his charm and prowess with women to gain information.
He meets Agnes Watkins at a ball and there is a mutual attraction, but he doesn’t realize she is the sister of his superior. When her brother threatens Fletcher’s career as a spy if he goes after Agnes, he is forced to walk away as he is dependent on the income from his career.
Fast forward three years, and Agnes has joined and trained with the Ladies of Virtue and is determined to reform Fletcher. She takes him to task for his behavior and reputation as the Don Juan of London.
When Agnes’ brother leaves town to investigate who is threatening the Ladies of Virtue, he asks Fletcher to watch over Agnes. Talk about asking the fox to guard the hen house!
Fletcher starts a courtship to protect Agnes and deter unwanted advances from men who think she is like her mother, who has had many lovers. Both realize how much they want each other and will do anything to be together – even defy Agnes’ brother.
DeHart gives Fletcher and Agnes a steamy romance with a HEA that can be read as a stand alone; however, she also features characters from previous books and the continuing mystery of Lady X.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I enjoyed the previous book in the Lords of Vice series, so I was really looking forward to this one. Fletcher made a good hero. He was tired of having to seduce women in his job, while he couldn’t have the one woman he really wanted…who was the sister of his superior. The relationship of Fletcher and his grandfather, and that of Agnes and her mother, were quite interesting. I also enjoyed seeing characters from the previous book.
However, the book took place during the same time period as the previous book, so the story had a been-there-done-that vibe. Also, a mystery cliffhanger from the previous story was not resolved. My main issue, however, was the heroine. I just didn’t particularly like her. Don’t lecture the man about his vice (lust) when you suffer from the same one yourself…though it was only directed towards one man. The book was entertaining enough, though, that I want to read the next installment.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
The Earl and the Reluctant Lady by Robyn DeHart this is book Three in the Lords of Vice Series. This is the story of Fletcher Banks, Earl of Wakefield and Agnes Watkins. I have read the previous books, but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Fletcher has been attracted to Agnes from the start but her brother is his supervisor and he is warned against her. So Fletcher tries to keep his feelings to himself…besides his spying job sets him to seduce women to get information from them. Agnes likes Fletcher a lot and doesn’t understand his distance to her sometimes. When Agnes approaches him he starts to give into to his desire to be with her.
Really enjoyed reading their story!
Great characters with plenty of heat
Book 3 in the Lords of Vice series, this book runs in parallel to book 2, which I’ve read (I haven’t read book 1 yet). Storylines do crossover, and there is an underlying plot line which I assume will flow through the entire series. So while I think this would work pretty well as a standalone, there are some spoilers here for book 2, so I’d generally recommend reading this series in order.
Agnes is a great character (though I really wanted to shake her mother-definitely a love-to-hate character); as one of the Ladies of Virtue, she’s trained in self-defense as well as crime prevention and actually makes weapons for women to carry, so she’s certainly not your average miss. I loved how much she has in common with Fletcher, whose job it is to collect information for the government under the cover of being an unrepentant rake, and whose grandfather is even worse than Agnes’s mother. There’s plenty of heat between the two, and in fact, much more than just heat, but they each have reasons not to marry—and more importantly, each believes the other unwilling to commit to, or incapable of being faithful to, a loving marriage.
There were some nice touches of suspense here to keep the story moving, but the author lost me a little bit with the miscommunication that almost felt like a comedy of errors between Agnes and Fletcher. While it certainly fit the characters and the time period, it happens to be a personal dislike of mine, and did drag down the story a bit for me.
A story with great characters as well as plenty of heat, it was still an entertaining read. I just didn’t enjoy the plot here as much as the previous book. Matilda and Sullivan do have me intrigued though, and I hope to be able to read their story soon. 4 stars
B2B Kelly