Named one of Amazon’s Best Romances of December!For a dashing duke and the proprietress of a secret, sensual club in the London Underground, passion could lead to love… if they dareThomas Powell, the new Duke of Northfield, knows he should be proper and principled, like his father. No more dueling, or carousing, or frequenting masked parties where Londoners indulge their wildest desires. But he’s … parties where Londoners indulge their wildest desires. But he’s not ready to give up his freedom just yet. The club is an escape, a place where he can forget about society and the weight of his title… and see her, the woman he’s wanted forever.
Lucia—known as Amina—manages the Orchid Club, a secret society where fantasies become reality. But for Lucia, it’s strictly business, profitable enough to finance her dream: a home for the lost girls of the streets. Surrounded by lovers, she only observes, unwilling risk her future for any man. No member has ever intrigued her…until him, the masked stranger whose heated looks sear her skin. After months of suppressed longing, they dare to give in to temptation…
But the late duke’s legacy comes with a shocking secret, and the scandal threatens to destroy everything Tom loves… his family, the Orchid Club, and even Lucia.
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There are books that you like, those that you love, and those you would be trapped on a desert island with. This, dear potential reader, is a desert island book.
The heir to a dukedom has been playing the field and is looking for a challenge when he is drawn to the manager of the Orchid Club, a sex club where anything goes as long as it’s consensual. However, when his father dies, Tom realizes he needs to grow up for the sake of the people he is now in charge of and for his sister, Maeve. Putting the pressure further on him is the father of Maeve’s beau, who is basically forbidding any union between Maeve and his son unless Tom toes the conservative line that his father walked. So Tom engages in one very hot night with the Orchid Club’s manager, Lucia, then goes off to start adulting. Then everything promptly goes to hell.
There is a lot of amazing catnip for me in this book. At the tip top are the family units established in the series. Tom’s father was strict but clearly loved his son. Tom’s relationship with Maeve is amazing, and it reminds me a lot of my own relationship with my oldest brother. Tom and Lucia both have non-English parents (he is part-Irish and she is part-Napoli), and their respective heritages are lovingly woven throughout the story. I especially love how Lucia explains the role of religion in her life without any of it turning preachy or it being shoved down anyone’s throat. Lucia’s found family with Kitty and Elspeth is even more adorable. There is also a same sex relationship that is beautifully written. It is completely organic and natural, just the way it should be in real life.
I love Tom’s struggle between toeing the line in the House of Lords and standing by his own progressive needs. He is aware that his actions are going to wind up hurting someone, be it Maeve, Lucia, or innocent people. In one very beautiful scene where he is wrestling with this, he tells Lucia that he just wants to be a good man. The book illustrates very well that no matter what the steps you take to be a good person, you’re going to fail somewhere. But as long as you can overall make a net positive in the world, then you are doing OK. Lucia’s journey throughout the story to avoid her mother’s pitfalls while holding her memory close is just amazing, and I love in the beginning the prayer she sends to her mother in the afterlife. These are both extremely good people, and Tom doesn’t hold Lucia’s past over her head, which is refreshingly adult.
I also loved the easter eggs to previous books that Leigh has written, and the sex is very, VERY hot and amazingly written. If you don’t care for explicit intimate scenes, this story is not for you. I also loved the ending immensely.
This was my favorite book in the “London Underground” series, and it makes me want to revisit the entire series to slot missing pieces into place.
I’ve been enjoying Eva Leigh’s latest series – The London Underground’ which each feature a non-traditional heroine such as a scam artist, a smuggler and now, a former prostitute and madam of a sex club. But then, doesn’t that ‘different’ heroine add excitement and challenge in a romance?! This story creates the delicious conflict as the reader knows the truth before the characters do and builds the sexual tension until it erupts between our hero and heroine. But the best part for me is the strong emotional conflict and relationship as the story moves on…and the happily-ever-after, of course!
This book was everything I ever wanted from a regency (and probably a few things I didn’t know I wanted but needed). I loved every moment of it and clearly read it in one sitting. I have a ton to say about it. I’m sure I’ll leave things out, but OMG: first, let’s talk about having an ambitious heroine where ambition is an admirable quality. Lucia is fabulous and wonderful, not just because of the unselfish, brave and charitable things she does, but because of how good she is at her job and how darn hard she works at it and worked to create her place.
You respect and appreciate every single choice she made in her life, even the difficult ones. Not one of them is treated as tragic, but instead as real and necessary as all of the choices Tom has to make navigating a his world, a world where duty and happiness are often at odds. Further, it was so darn wonderful that Lucia never had to be “fixed,” to get her HEA, instead she needed to find someone who was worthy of being her partner and earning her trust.
And Tom did not disappoint as a hero in any way. He never shirked anything, not acknowledgement of his own privilege, not his love for his mother and sister, and not his own conscious. The choices he had to make were hard but he acknowledged his good fortune to be in the position to make them. The consequences terrifying at times but he acknowledged to he and his family would all survive, no matter what (and he acknowledged that others would suffer greater consequences by far). In short, he acknowledged the world outside his own–in a clear and non-condescending–something extremely rare for a titled regency hero. And the way he ordered his priorities in fixing matters at the end–exactly right.
The writing was lovely and the sex was hot and the side characters were fun and well developed and the HEA was clever and satisfying, but this book was so much more than all of that. The moment Tom acknowledged that it’d be hypocritical to judge sex works as men of his class paid for sex all the time, a reader who has always been uncomfortable with books where the opera singer mistress is used for sexual experience and tossed aside in favor of the blue-blooded virginal heroine, cheered.
Everything in this book was perfect–from Tom’s careful consideration of the power dynamics between them to the realistic way the coworkers at the club were portrayed (i.e. a true work family) to the fact that the stakes of exposure were actually higher for Lucia (and such was acknowledged). These characters deserved their wonderful HEA and I was so happy to see them get it. I recommend this book a million times over.
No ordinary trope.
Lord Thomas Powell led a rake’s life until his father’s death. Now the Duke of Warfield, he has to change his life and take hold of his responsibilities. The sudden appearance of a young lady at his backdoor reveals a secret that he never, ever would have expected. Lucia manages the Orchid Club. A secret place where people from all walks of life can engage in no holds barred sexual fantasies as long as they wear a mask. When Tom and Lucia meet and begin their affair, lives are threatened by a powerful Duke. Only love can save them. Very steamy explicit sex with a lot of substance to the book. Absolutely enjoy reading Leigh’s books.
It took me a while to get into this book, but ultimately, I enjoyed the very strong Lucia, who challenged Tom to be a stronger person.
Started and couldn’t finish. Story didn’t make sense. Characters started strong, but quickly dissolved into sex crazed animals. Lost the focus of the story.
*grins madly*
And Laura’s historical romance fiction addiction continues…
Oh my – my heart is SO full *sighs*
I have been dying (okay, slight exaggeration) to read Tom and Lucia’s story. I’ll let you all in on a not-so-secret, secret – *whispers* Tom is my favourite, but don’t tell Alex (FDTD) *blushes* I’m sure I’m not the only one who always has a favourite in a series. Well, for me, Tom is that character. Although, please note that each book can be read as a standalone.
I’ve been slightly *pinches fingers* obsessed with Tom since FDTD. Ever since their initial meeting I wondered how the heir to a Dukedom and the manageress of a place for hedonistic pleasure could possibly have a HEA. My mind was working overtime. Scary, I know.
So, as you can imagine, DTLAD had a lot to live up to. It did not disappoint. *shouts* I repeat. It. Did. Not. Disappoint. Their story was everything I had hoped for and more. Totally flamazing!
The author threw me a curveball I did not see coming leaving me agog (don’t you just love that word?). Cue Laura with her best ‘WTH?’ expression. With various mutterings of, “This does not bode well…”, and others I can’t repeat in polite society. Whaaa? Don’t look at me like that? I’m a lady… sometimes *snorts*
Brace yourself though, peeps. You are in for one steamy (x ) and suspense driven ride.
The phwoar factor is off the charts HAWT. Yet, Tom and Lucia’s connection is such I questioned whether or not I was intruding on *coughs* moments I shouldn’t have been. Oi, watch it you! *wags finger* Read it and tell me if I’m not right *crosses arms*
As events unfolded, I felt the suspense mounting more and more as I waited for the other shoe to drop. My poor heart was beating a mile a minute – stressed you will be. I was also so angry at times I could’ve spit!
It’s been a while since I’ve rooted for a couple more. Sap alert – my happiness depended on their happiness. Ack, you know how invested I can get *wafts hand*
It truly was the perfect ending for an amazing series.
*sigh*
Now what to do? Book hangovers are the worst, aren’t they?
Thomas Powell, formerly the Earl of Langdon & now the Duke of Northfield following his father’s death, knows he should be proper and principled, like his father. No more duelling, or carousing, or frequenting masked balls. But he’s not ready to give up his freedom just yet he wants one more night.
Lucia aka Amina manages the Orchid Club, a secret society where fantasies become reality. Yet no member of the club has ever intrigued her until him, the masked stranger whose heated looks sear her skin. After a year of suppressed longing, do they dare to give in to temptation ?
This is the third book in the series, whilst it could easily be read on its own the three stories do gel together very well & the epilogue rounds the series off very well. I’d been waiting for Tom’s story & it didn’t disappoint, I particularly liked how Tom & Lucia’s relationship developed, whilst the attraction was in no doubt it was how he treat Lucia that added that little extra, he treated her like a lady not a thirteen year old who’d been thrown out onto the streets & had used all her wiles to survive. I also like the secondary romance of Hugh & Maeve. All in all a lovely romance that had me captivated
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
If you read historical romance and enjoy audiobooks, you have got to listen to this one. Zara Hampton-Brown does an incredible job with the narration, especially the Irish hero. (Be still my heart, Tom.)
Absolutely loved this one from start to finish! I haven’t read Eva Leigh before, although she’s been on my TBR for some time. Irish heroes are my favorite, in fiction and real life, so therefore Tom had me at hello. But Lucia was just as impressive a heroine and her work ethic, determination, and compassion for the poor really made an impression on me.
The author did a great job of exploring class dynamics and the layers of privilege. The Orchid Club is a place for everyone—they are all equals when they’re there. But life gets more complicated outside the club walls, as Tom soon learns. I really felt for Tom’s dilemma but I could see so clearly what he needed to do and I was antsy waiting for him to make a decision. The relief that followed was immense because he absolutely stole my heart. Tom and Lucia were so perfect together and while there were definite barriers in place, their HEA was that much more satisfying.
I was also fascinated/infuriated by how limited women were regarding mourning: not allowed to attend the funeral, not allowed to leave the house, etc. I don’t think I’ve seen those societal rules before and it added some interesting layers. Truly a wonderful story all around.
CW: grief, references to the illness and subsequent death of a family member, reference to being shunned by family and abandonment, reference to the limited options for girls and women in the lower class, sexual harassment, bullying, blackmail
One of the things I love about our romance genre is when a talented author takes a premise that seems unworkable…and succeeds spectacularly in making the reader keep turning the pages.
Dare to Love a Duke by Eva Leigh is book Three in The London Underground Series. This is the story of Thomas Powell, the new Duke of Northfield and Lucia aka ‘Amina’. I have read the previous books, but feel this is easily a standalone book.
Lucia runs the Orchid Club working to earn money to help other girls/ladies on the streets. Tom is the a newly titled Duke but is slow to give up his standing with the Orchid Club. Tom has started a friendship of sorts with Lucia and the desire to be with her. But things don’t go easy as a secret comes forward which adds to their setting them back.
Overall really enjoyed this book and has been a great series.