A lady of reserve and a fierce street fighter find common ground in the second Lost Lords of London novel by USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell.
Eight years ago, Lady Lila March retreated to the safe shadows of her family’s estate after a devastating tragedy. Weary of being a whisper of her former self, she is determined to brave the dangers of the outside world again. No man is … world again. No man is better equipped to train her in the art of defense than the Savage Gentleman, East London’s undefeated street fighter.
Hugh Savage reigns as king—of the underworld. Physically invulnerable, emotionally battered, he has his reasons for bare-knuckle brawling. Though Hugh longs to break free of the ring and leave behind the brutal world of violence, he’s intrigued by the challenge Lady Lila poses. A mysterious lady of the peerage willfully descending into the dangerous rookeries? That bespeaks a woman with secrets of her own.
As their unconventional pact progresses, Hugh comes to admire the resolve in Lila’s heart. And beneath his hard surface, she sees a tenderness that touches her to the quick. They’ll soon discover how much they need each other—to face their pasts together, and to fight for a future they deserve.
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In the Dark with the Duke by Christi Caldwell Review
4/5
Christi Caldwell has written some of my favorite historical romances. In the Dark with the Duke will become another one. Lila and Hugh are one of my favorite couples. Both have known extreme pain yet they learn to overcome it. I loved that Lila wants to protect her family and herself by fighting. I love that Hugh after a lifetime of violence wants peace. The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. I wanted a little bit more than the HEA. I wanted to see the reunion between siblings and Lila’s family meeting Hugh. It wasn’t a bad ending, far from it, it just ended a scene or two too soon in my opinion. Otherwise I totally recommend this romance!
London 1828
Tales of stolen children and murdered families… the Lost Lords
Lady Lila March had hidden herself away for nine years. Fear, evil, danger lurked outside. She had experienced it. But with the almost kidnapping of her nephew, she decided it was time to reenter the world, but she would be prepared. That is when she saw the article about the “Savage Gentleman” , Hugh Savage, part of a fight club and had never been defeated. Her plan formed.
Hugh Savage. A devastating childhood.. No he had never had the opportunity to truly be a child and know the simple things… He had survived.. But at what cost? The tortured hero that pulled at my heart.
When these two met Hugh recognized the look in her eyes. She wanted him to teach her to fight.
An intense story with the scarred hero and heroine that Christi is a master at writing. My very favorite troupe and she owns it! There is no one better at bringing the harshness of the times out and having her characters maneuver themselves to redemption.. But it is a long journey but one that will bring light in the end. Brilliant.
Since she was caught up in a devastating tragedy nine years ago, Lady Lila March has hidden away in her family’s townhouse and become a mere shadow of her former self. Now, fed up with her own limitations, Lila is determined she’ll venture into the dangers of the outside world again. First she must equip herself to defend her family from any would-be attackers and in order to find the best man to train her she must venture to East London in search of the notoriously undefeated street fighter known as the Savage Gentleman.
As an orphan on the streets of London, Hugh Savage learned to fight as a means of survival. He lives on his reputation as an unbeatable fighter, but in truth he has always abhorred that violence and longs to be free of it. Though he’s been determined not to teach anyone to fight, he finds himself unable to resist being intrigued by Lila and the challenge she brings, not to mention the secrets she so obviously carries with her.
As their lessons progress, Hugh and Lila develop a deeper relationship and reveal intimate details of their lives that neither has previously discussed with any other person. The more they come to know each other, the more alike they realize they are. It soon becomes apparent that they need each other in order to overcome their painful pasts and strive for a future together.
I have loved this book! Unfortunately I had to move right in the middle of reading it and my reading time has been severely curtailed. I hated having to put this down and attend to all my other responsibilities. I loved this book! This was emotional, like rip your heart out emotional. Both Lila and Hugh had some serious issues to work through but the development of their relationship, though rapid in terms of days, was excellent given how much they came to know each other and the honest conversations they had together. I loved how each was willing to forgive past mistakes and understand each other’s growth and development as people, as well as that fact that they fought to be together despite obstacles. Lila and Hugh were fabulous together and now I’m hoping for a story for Sylvia.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A dark fight society is no place for a lady but what this lady needs is exactly a man who would be part of such a society. Lady Lila has lived a very sheltered life the past 8 years due to a traumatic event that left her scarred, in more ways than one. She seeks out a man that is quite possible more damaged than her, Hugh Savage. Hugh turns out to be much more than she expected and exactly what she needed. As both their lives begin to change can they survive each other’s deceit, their pasts, and their trauma? Lila and Hugh were almost electric together, a powerful story where their love helped piece their souls back together.
In the Dark with the Duke by Christi Caldwell
Lost Lords of London #2
After years of being a recluse, the idea of being unable to protect herself and those she loves leads Lady Lila March to seek out Hugh Savage for instruction in self-defense. He is less than excited about the idea, but Lila is tenacious and persists till she succeeds in wearing him down. And thus, begins a dance the two will continue throughout the story. Hugh has battle scars from fighting for his life on the streets, in the children’s bare-knuckle boxing ring and later as a soldier while Lila has scars from a horrible day that changed her life significantly. Whether or not the two can find a way to overcome their issues and forge a future together is what this book is about.
What I liked:
* Hugh – a big man in body and spirit – a gentle giant with a lethal punch…and the perfect man for Lila.
* Lila – a woman who is ready to leave her life as a recluse, become stronger and reach out for what she wants – she is perfect for Hugh
* The plot and writing AND that it had me looking up female pugilists and finding they existed in the timeframe of this story.
* The look into life in the rookery and how grim it must have been.
* The back story of Hugh and his friends
* The mystery of what happened to Valerie
* Finding out who the bad guys were and what skullduggery they had been up to.
* Knowing that there is at least one more book in the series
What I did not like:
* Knowing that the men using children as they did in this book no doubt still use children in similar ways today
* That some of the characters in the book were so amoral
* Finishing the story and wondering what the future held in store for more than one character in the book.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
An amazing story from Christi Caldwell. This is the second book in this series, but can easily be read as a stand alone.
What happens when when an ex-fighter/soldier falls in love with a young woman who was injured in a massacre caused by the army; the answer is a phenomenal story of love, passion, loss, and overcoming an overwhelming fear.
Christi Caldwell writes stories with plots that are unique and powerful, characters that are deep and realistic, and settings that are descriptive and true to real life. Her stories bring a wide range of emotions that range from happiness and joy, fear and terror, anger and rage, and love to hate.
I have never read a book written by Christi that I would not recommend a hundred times over and In the Dark with the Duke falls into that category. This story is as close to perfect as a story can get and I totally and completely recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher and won a copy via Goodreads and am volunteering an honest review.
Dark with the Duke by Christi Caldwell is book Two in the Lost Lords of London Series. This is the story of Hugh Savage and Lila March. I have read (and LOVED!) the previous book, but I did feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Hugh has had to fight his whole life from a very early age so it is not surprise that he is called the Savage Gentleman and is East London’s undefeated street fighter along with being King of the underworld. Hugh fights a internal battle too that he can’t seem to get past. Lila had something awful to happen which sent her into a downward spiral into a recluse. But after years living from the world along with being scare of it she is slowly coming out of that thought process. But Lila thinks learning to defend herself along with the people she loves will help her go forward leaving her sad recluse life. So Lila knows she needs the best fighter to teacher her which leads her to Hugh. Hugh of course doesn’t want to teach her this but when he see something in her that makes him move forward to help. They both of course have a pull towards the other but the more they work together the more they learn they have something more going on. Love this author’s writing and of course this book! Highly recommend it!
I truly enjoyed and devoured this fantastic book, I could not put it down.
This book weaves a complex story of a h/h both lost and tortured by the past. Only through their anxiety, their tortured existence is finding each other and themselves as they fall into their happily ever after.
Their are modern themes that are not always explored in historical context. Both the h/h have ptsd from trauma in their past. His for multi reasons hers from an injuries at an event that could be ripped from a modern newspaper today. Lila goes to meet Hugh in order to have him help her take back her power, she feels powerless in her world. I think these storylines made this book even more accessible and meaningful. I truly loved it!
Lila and Hugh had my favorite kind of chemistry, the banter and will they won’t they kind, and I loved every minute of their interaction. This book. Is smart, sexy and meaningful.
I have to start by telling you Christi Caldwell is one of my favorite authors. Her writing style gets you from the beginning of the story to the end. This story is about Lila who had a tragic experience years ago which has affected her actions and how she chooses to live her life. Hugh is a bare-knuckle fighter who lived on the streets for years, and his tragic past has affected how he lives his life. They meet when Lila wants to know how to fight so she can defend herself or the people she loved. This story had a mystery and a start of friendship which turns to love. I felt very bad for Hugh, he had no family and no real friends. I felt bad for Lila for how she has lived her life. I feel bad they were both very lonely and not really happy. Christi Caldwell wrote the story of them finding each other realistic, she did not rush it or force the story. I only wish she would put an epilogue in this book, I would have liked a summed-up chapter so I could know what happed to Hugh partners and Lila’s sister. I guess I will use my imagination and of course give everyone a happy ever after.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In In the Dark with the Duke we are reacquainted with Lady Lila March. A recluse, she was just barely coming out of her shell by taking music lessons. Fear for her family and motivating by her feelings of inadequacy, Lila hires an undefeated bare-knuckle boxer to teach her self-defense. The fighter, Hugh Savage, is the victim of brutal past. He doesn’t want to help Lila, but he is intrigued by her. These two very unlikely damaged people form a strong bond.
I love Caldwell’s books. They always show great sensitivity and evoke deep emotions. I liked this book very much. The story was very dark at times. It makes us wonder if sins committed by necessity can still deserve forgiveness. Some elements of the story pushed the limits of my credibility. Nevertheless, I read it eagerly and will certainly look for the next book in this series.
ARC provided through Netgalley.
I’m having to give this one 3.5 stars. I’ve loved the Lost Lords of London so far as the spin off, but this one lacked in parts for me. I liked Lila, but I don’t feel like she was using the correct words when she tried to explain to Hugh about what she wanted from him. It wasn’t exactly learning to fight, but defend that she wanted to know. That, for me, was the most miscommunication between the H/h. Watching their slow burn as they got to really know each other was really nice to read and the touches of history added in to explain Lila’s past were great, it just took a little while to get her history. Thank you for the advanced copy!
I read a lot. A lot. Which means I’m rarely running into authors that truly surprise me. Christi Caldwell has done that with this book. It is amazing. In the Dark with the Duke tells the story of Lila and Hugh. Both come from very different worlds and different backgrounds. Towards the beginning of the book it’s hard to see how the two will ever be able to work together, let alone find their HEA. Both have been through their own traumas and just don’t see eye to eye on much. Caldwell writes characters that are so very raw and real. You cannot but help feel for them and, despite it seeming impossible, hope they find their way through their troubled start. The tension between the two is palpable and kept me from putting this book down. The world of boxing and the rookery that Caldwell portrays is exciting and gritty. I loved every part of it. I loved that everything wasn’t easy, perfect and shiny. You’re not spending your time in this book in ballrooms. I loved that the writing was just so well done. It’s exciting and refreshing. Lila is strong, brave and determined. Hugh is just so dang good. While In the Dark with the Duke is part of a series it works just fine as a standalone. I really really enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an ARC of this book. The opinions here are my own.
Raised in a brutal world the hero Hugh only knows to fight his way. Lila, the heroine, has become a recluse after being injured in a violent massacre. They each recognized a shared tortured soul. This book was a little too violent for my tastes. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Montlake Romance for my honest review.
The flittermouse is no more. Christi knows how to write angst into her characters. I have read several of Christi’s books and my favorites are about the people of the underworld. These characters have all had tragedy in their lives but work through the problems and even though they are not perfect on the other side, they survive and live happy lives. Hugh is one such character as is Lila even though she is of the ton she lived through the horrific Peterloo Massacre. What I really like about this story is that Lila takes back her life. It is hard but she is a survivor. A great love story between Hugh and Lila.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
Physical and emotional wounds from years ago have kept Hugh and Lila locked in their pasts, with little hope for a better future. Both eaten up with haunting memories that would give no escape. Lady Lila March can live with the fear and reclusiveness no longer. She has decided it’s time to form a plan and take responsibility for her own safety and that of her sister and nephew. Determined to make the acquaintance of Hugh Savage, the renowned bare-knuckled fighter, and convince him to train her in self defense, she boldly sets out alone for Savage’s Fight Society, located in the roughest part of East London. She will find him dead set against her request and not easily swayed. And so their story begins…
Christi Caldwell gives us yet another brilliant and heart wrenching tale of two flawed individuals, one fierce and full of anger, and one tenacious and capable of achieving the change she so desires. While butting heads, it doesn’t stop the immediate chemistry between the two, which is sizzling and spirited, even at times, warm and tender. There’s so much to overcome before lessons are learned and healing can begin, and as training continues and their relationship builds, secrets and surprises emerge and threaten success. Never a dull moment with this amazing love story, a page turner from beginning to end. And yes, have the tissues handy, and be prepared to be captivated by some totally lovable characters.
I received an arc for my honest opinion, as well as purchasing for my kindle library. If you enjoy a great romance with a shock of emotion, this should be your next must read.
Part of the Lost Lords of London series by Christi Caldwell, this is a fantastic read, it brings together two tortured souls, haunted by their pasts. Lila our heroine, youngest sister to widowed Sylvia and Henry the Earl of Waterson, has hidden from the world since Peterloo, is determined to enter the living again. She feels in order to do this she needs to learn to defend herself and her family so she seeks out Hugh, our hero, renowned bare knuckle fighter for the Rookeries. Both have learned not to trust and hide who they really are from the world, suddenly find that they have a lot more in common that they thought possible. Passion flares between them and despite interference from all sides, love finds a way. This book is darker and grittier than Christi’s previous book, but it makes the character more real and believable. Although characters from previous book pop up this can be read as a stand alone, having said that once you read this you will definitely want to read more. This is how regency should be written, not the staid two dimensional characters authors normally write about. I highly recommend this book
Lady Lila March clings to the darkness as a recluse. Nightmares from the past bring back the fear time and time again. Reaching out to Hugh Savage, a bare knuckle fighter, Lila wants him to teach her how to defend herself. Both live in darkness and need each other, but Hugh doesn’t feel worthy. Only by revealing the past can it bring them together. Another exceptional book in the series that has one twist after another and totally unexpected. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Wow, what a story! Christi Caldwell never ceases to amaze me with her stories and this one will be known as one of my favourites. It’s not a light, airy romance, this is more of a dark, nitty gritty kind of story but it’s so well written and you’ll be in love with both the hero and heroine before you can blink.
If you love a hero with a tortured soul, you’ve come to the right book! My heart ached for Hugh, for the childhood that was stolen from him, for the fighting that he hated and for the lack of any kind of love in his life. As for the heroine, Lila, she has been a recluse for almost 10 years, not being able to go out during the day when so many people are around due to a tragedy that changed her life.
When Lila decides she wants to try to overcome her demons, she sets her sights on a man who has never lost a bare-knuckle fight, Hugh, and demands that he teach her how to protect herself. Hugh has demons of his own to fight and wants nothing to do with Lila but he soon learns that she does not take “no” for an answer!!
Two broken souls who help each other heal turns into a beautiful love story.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.