To Bedevil a DukeA Duke of many rules. A Lady of independence.Since her cheating husband created a scandal by dying beneath his whore, Darcy de Merle is determined to enjoy widowhood, and refuses to mourn a man she grew to loathe. Setting the ton ablaze, Darcy holds a ball to re-launch herself into Society on the anniversary of his death.Cameron, the Duke of Athelby plays by the rules. Always. … death.
Cameron, the Duke of Athelby plays by the rules. Always. He’s lived through the terrible consequences of what revelry, carelessness, and lack of respect for one’s social position can have on a family. So, when he sees Darcy de Merle skirting the boundaries of respectability, it is only right that he should remind her of the proper etiquette that she should adhere to.
Darcy refuses to allow another man to tell her what to do. When the Duke of Athelby chastises her at every turn, reminding her of her social failures, well, there is only one thing to be done about it…seduce the duke and show him there is more to life than the proper conventions set by the ton.
A battle of wills ensues where all bets are off, numerous rules are broken and love becomes the ultimate reward.
To Madden a Marquess
She saved his life, but can she save him from himself?
Hunter, Marquess of Aaron, has the ton fooled. Outwardly he’s a gentleman of position, with good contacts, wealth and charm. Inwardly, he’s a mess. His vice—drinking himself into a stupor most days—almost kills him when he steps in front of a hackney cab. His saviour, a most unlikely person, is an angel to gaze at, but with a tongue sharper than his sword cane.
Cecilia Smith dislikes idleness and waste. Had she been born male, she would already be working for her father’s law firm. So, on a day when she was late for an important meeting at one of her many charities, she was not impressed by having to step in and save a foxed gentleman rogue from being run over.
When their social spheres collide, Hunter is both surprised and awed by the capable, beautiful Miss Smith. Cecilia, on the other hand, is left confused and not a little worried by her assumptions about the Marquess and his demons. It is anyone’s guess whether these two people from different worlds can form one of their own…
To Tempt an Earl
Hamish Doherty, Earl Leighton is having a terrible Season.
A portion of his home burned to the ground, he was attacked outside a gaming hell, and a debutante he cannot stomach is determined they’ll wed. It’s enough to make any lord head for the hills, but his luck turns worse in the country. A large unpaid bill at an inn and a missing purse later, he’s ready to concede defeat to the fickle Fates – until rescue unexpectedly comes from an intoxicatingly beautiful stranger.
As the daughter of a successful tradesman, Miss Katherine Martin has no time for peers and their problems. However there is something about this handsome and yet unlucky earl, and when their paths cross again, Lord Leighton offers to repay his debt to her in any way she pleases. Katherine decides one night in his arms will be just right, and yet as two kindred souls find passion together, it seems one night won’t be enough. But can a woman of no rank and trade in her blood be enough to Tempt an Earl?
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When you want to time-travel and lose yourself in romance, Tamara Gill will take you away. I love the box-sets because when I binge read, I don’t want to wait the 5 seconds to download the next book in a series. Her characters are strong, flawed and so real you wish you could step back in time and meet them. And soooo swoonworthy!
Loved them. Enjoyable, hot, fun, suspenseful, dramatic and much more. Bumpy roads on the way to love. They all have men who have issues to solve. And the women who love them but have their own issues along with helping the men overcome theirs.
Lords of London box set for the first three books by Tamara Gill.
I love this series and so happy that the first books are boxed in this set.
The books that you will get are:
To Bedevil a Duke
To Madden a Marquess
To Tempt an Earl
TO BEDEVIL A DUKE – I enjoyed this short read & the different plot from the norm. Darcy & Cameron were the true meaning of opposites attract! Darcy was the experienced widow & the Duke was a virgin & it was great fun to read the way Darcy seduced him & taught him the ropes of making love. I look forward to the next book!
TO MADDEN A MARQUESS – I enjoyed this story & the main characters a lot! Cecilia Smith is a strong, opinionated, middle class daughter of a law firm owner. She has grown up despising the upper class & their idleness & waste & has dedicated herself to running several orphanages/schools for children. Hunter, Marquess of Aaron looks good, smells good, acts good & has the Ton completely fooled as he is drinking himself into oblivion every single day. Then he, literally, runs into Cecilia when she pushes him back from stepping out in front of a hackney (he is foxed, of course). She lets him know exactly how she feels about him being inebriated in the middle of the day & his upper crust airs he is putting on. They part, never to cross paths again – not so fast, this is where the journey begins for them. Can Lia help him escape his demons; can they get past the two different worlds they live in? I highly recommend this book to all historical romance readers.
TO TEMPT AN EARL – Hamish Doherty, Earl Leighton & Miss Katherine Martin, a daughter of a successful master builder were obviously from two different positions in society & could they ever bridge the gap? The book was just such a “feel good” story with such wonderful main characters & endearing secondary characters that all pulled you in to their lives. This story has everything thing that you want or need in a historical romance – rescue of an Earl, a fire, the Ton, friendships, pushing mother, loving father, romance, scandal, honor, love, some spice a rescue but, in the end, can nobility marry some from the trades? I highly recommend this book & all in this series & I am looking forward to reading more!
I have read and reviewed all of the books in this boxset
To Bedevil a Duke: Having romped and played together, Lady Darcy de Merle and Cameron, the Duke Of Athelby, had once had a very special relationship, one of shared fun, laughter and adventure. Time and disappointments have changed all that. Darcy has been through a disastrous marriage, where she was used and disabused of any romantic notions about marriage and she has sworn never to be under another man’s control for as long as she lives. Cameron’s predecessors have brought the family’s name into disrepute, leaving him angry and determined to never allow the smudge of scandal to besmirch the Dukedom. As he once again corrects Darcy for what he considers her inappropriate behaviour, he almost goes too far in insulting her, engaging Darcy’s fighting spirit and drawing her mischievous side into the open. When Cameron becomes the victim of a prank, it is Darcy that comes to his rescue and the feelings Cameron has harboured for her all the years come to the fore, but he is astounded when she turns him down. It takes very inappropriate behaviour to win her over.
To Madden a Marquess:The daughter of an attorney, Cecilia Smith has no aspirations of being a lady. Her sole aim in life is to provide a safe place for the orphans of the poorer districts of London, where they can experience warmth, enough food to fill their bellies and an education to give them a better start in life. Observing the antics of the drunken Marquess of Aaron reaffirms her belief that members of the ton are selfish and self-absorbed. But when that same man staggers in front of a hackney cab, Cecilia does what any self-respecting person would do, she charges out in front of the hack and pushes Hunter out of the way. When they meet again a few days later under surprising circumstances, Cecilia is put out by the arrogant man’s attitude, but as she keeps meeting up with him, she begins to realise that he has deeper issues and genuinely needs her help. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy about her new-found friends and when her father begins to make demands that she doesn’t agree with, Cecilia has a choice to make. If drunkenness were not bad enough, Hunter compounds his sins and insults Cecilia in the worst possible way. However, when he recognises all he may lose, he wonders whether he will have the strength to make the changes necessary to alter his course in life.
To Tempt and Earl: Most people have a run of bad luck from time to time, but Hamish Doherty, Earl Leighton has had his fill. Both times when all is lost, it is Miss Katherine Martin that steps into the breach. Despite being in trade and actively participating in her father’s business, Hamish finds that he cannot get Kat out of his mind and when she tells him how he can repay her for bailing him out, he is tempted, but his fear of the results hold him back. The plot is fairly short but intense with a romance that builds and spirals out of control where it lands for all to see. I felt for both the main characters and their anguish engaged my emotions as they struggled through class differences, snobbery, and public opinion.
I always enjoy reading books by experienced writers, as the plot doesn’t drag, there are no long-winded internal dialogues and the story moves at a pace that keeps the reader’s interest. These novels are also well written, entertaining and each comes to a happy conclusion.
*** SPOILER ALERT ***
TO BEDEVIL A DUKE:
I loved this whimsical tale of a lady of the ton debauching a Duke. This is a delight to read and I loved how fun the characters are. Darcy is a woman who just finished her required one year of mourning. Her marriage was a disaster. Her husband tried to control everything she did but he had all the freedom to do as he pleased with his many mistresses. He died with one of his mistresses by his side. Darcy was embarrassed. She swore never to marry again and allow a man to rule over her. Now that she was back in society, she thought to pursue a lover. However, the man she was attracted to irritated her to no end. Cameron the Duke of Athelby was a straight up stick in the mud and acted like he had a rod up his @ss. A stickler for rules and propriety his looks his demeanor his life must be above reproach. He had no qualms telling others male or female if they were not living up to his high standards of living. He never walked with a smile, his countenance was one of extreme dislike of everyone and everything around him that did not come up to scratch. When he was around Darcy his disdain for her fun-loving ways and her skirting the edges of the propriety of polite society drove him crazy and he did not hesitate to tell her so. With each encounter between them it seemed they would never get along. But Cameron’s grandmother is Darcy’s godmother and she would always say that they belonged together. They both abhorred the thought. One evening was all it took for Darcy to see a different side to Cameron. They had known one another as children and she wondered why he had so drastically changed? She was beginning to understand. She decided to get him to kiss her and see where that led. This was such a fun read.
TO MADDEN A MARQUESS:
(Happy Sigh) I really, really enjoyed reading this book. It was serious and witty at the same time. The story touched on many social societal topics that need to be addressed. Whether 100 years ago or today, these issues are still present and universal. Our heroine, Miss Cecilia Smith, is the daughter of a well-established lawyer. She is three and twenty, considered a spinster and is a bluestocking. She has strong beliefs and a strong tongue to match. She never fears to speak her mind in a way that is direct and without guile. Her life is dedicated to charities that help the orphaned children of London find a home in the orphanages she has helped establish and run. The school, which is part of the orphanage, provides the children with education so they can be gainfully employed one day. She has one small charity that is dedicated to the parents of the children in need of assistance. Many of these parents either have drinking problems or medicinal addictions. They are cared for and attended to. This is what she lived for. She was a member of the London Relief Society. These women all contributed in one way or another to all these charities. One day on her way to a meeting of the relief society she came across the very handsome, very rakish Marquess of Aaron. She was walking down the street when she noticed him stumbling along. Then all of a sudden, the Marquess thought to walk out in the middle of the road and was about to be hit by a cab. What else was she to do but to save him from being run over. Even in his well-cut fancy clothes he reeked of alcohol and sweat. She was a spitfire admonishing the Marquess that it was too early in the day to be foxed. They bantered back and forth, she gave as good as she got. As she walked away from the encounter Hunter, the Marquess was intrigued, impressed and was attracted to her. Although they ran in different societies they probably would never meet again. But what she had said to him stayed on his mind. Cecilia finally made it to her meeting and advised the group that there was a persistent need in a part of London that greatly needed their services. She has found an abandoned building, in need of repairs but the size and location was perfect for a new endeavor. After some discussion they all agreed to put forth an offer to the owner of the building. Cecilia advised the group that her father would assist in finding out who the owner was and sent out the proposal. It turns out that Hunter owns the building. At a meeting Hunter told Cecilia that he would not sell. She became incessed and reminded him she saved his life. In return he should sell to her. Now begins the battle of the wills. Cecilia comes up with ingenious way to annoy Hunter in order to sway him to sell. Cecilia thought Hunter was the most vexing man she ever met. Hunter felt the same way about Cecilia. However, their attraction to each other grew. When Hunter wants a kiss from Cecilia she tells him he can have one if he does not drink any alcohol at any event up until the time he sees her again. He agrees. When he stops drinking he goes into withdrawals. He won’t he let his closest friends, the Duke and Duchess of Athelby, help him. He only wants Cecilia. The Duchess goes and retrieves Cecilia. Cecilia must protect her reputation and hide the fact that she is going to help the Marquess. She leaves a note for her father that she going to spend a few days at one of the orphanages. Cecilia explains to the Duke and Duchess she has seen this reaction before with the parents at her charity who leave drinking and drugs. She informs them that it will be a difficult time for the Marquess but he will recover. He should be find in about a month. When Cecilia returns home she is met by an angry father and an employee of his a Mr. White. He found out where she really was and said he had had enough of her disobedience. He has contracted with Mr. White to marry her. Cecilia cannot believe her father would coheres her into marriage to a slimy man that she deplores. He threatens to pull all his funding for her charities if she does not comply. She leaves his office without saying a word. After crying in her room she comes up with a desperate solution. It would cause her to socially lower her status. But this is the price she will pay to continue working with her charities and avoid marrying Mr. White. When Hunter found out he was quite upset. He owed his life to Lia as he called her. She brought him out of a stupor of alcohol that has been with him for a very long time. He feels better, thinks clearer and sees how self centered he had been. Lia makes him want to be a better man. When Hunter finds out that the first bann has been read for the engagement of Mr. White and Cecilia, he his hurt. He never gives Cecilia a chance to explain her new situation. Hunter puts her down and insults her. Her heart is broken. Will Hunter ever admit that he is in love with his Lia? This is such a good book.
TO TEMPT AN EARL:
A joy to read. An independent woman of trade, Katherine is best friends with Celia, the Marchioness of Aaron and Darcy, the Duchess of Althelby. Katherine has a good head on her shoulders. She is intelligent, astute, better than most men at her trade. Her father is a master builder and she assists him by evaluating the job, measuring the area, add in any extras the owner my want and sets up the bill. If they are hired she orders all the material so her father can concentrate on the building or rebuilding whatever the case may be. She is constantly on the job site making sure every thing is above par. Her father’s reputation is the best in England. Her personal life is another matter. At six and twenty she has yet to wed and feels that she never will. She is not classically beautiful. However she is attractive. She does not feel attractive. If she was why are there no suitors. I felt bad for Katherine. It was easy to identify with her sadness and feelings of being less than others. She has witness the happiness her two dear friends Celia and Darcy have found in marriage and unfortunately for her, she longed for it. A fluke of fate brought Katherine together with Hamish, the Earl of Leighton. At an inn she saved him from a severe beating from the proprietor when Hamish’s money was stolen from his room and he could not pay. Katherine paid his bill and Hamish was so grateful that he offered to return the favor in the future. Hamish’s year so far has been dismal. He had unfortunate situation one after the other happen to him. Part of his London townhouse had burned down and needed to be rebuilt. His man of business arranged for Mr. Martin’s company (Katherine’s father) to evaluate the rebuild and give a quote. This was three months after the incident at the inn. Hamish was intrigued with Katherine. She was taller than average. Slimmer than most but still attractive. Hamish looked forward to working with Katherine. He also was good friends with the husbands of her two good friends so they would be around each other quite a bit. Even though Katherine was below his social status he did not even consider it a problem. He wanted to get to know her. So he did. One evening at an event Katherine mustered up all her courage to ask for the favor he owed her. She asked for one night of passion. If she was destined to be an old maid she wanted to know what it was like to be desired by a man. By this time Hamish wanted Katherine but she was a virgin and that was where he drew the line. He told her no. But that did not stop Katherine from trying to change his mind. It was entertaining the lengths Katherine went to gain his attention and it was equally entertaining to read how hard it was for Hamish to resist. I truly enjoyed reading this.
graphic sex
I really enjoyed reading all 3 books.
One of the best things about these three books is that they’re linked by characters. Darcy, Cecilia, and Katherine are friends, have been since childhood. In each book, one of the women finds her love match. The men, all titled, are also friends. While the plots are predictable when the couples deny their attraction for one another, then gradually warm to love, and finally find true passion. Each of the women is strong and not constrained by the demands of society.
Easy quick read. A relaxing interlude.
I’m loving the unusual heroes and heroines! The not perfect ones are so much more fun!
I love reading historical romances. It takes you to a time in history that is romantic on its own!
All three stories were good reads. Love wins over society rules. The characters are intertwined between the three stories.
Stories to relax and enjoy.
For me I did not like the F word and other cuss words
A Very Steamy Trio
Books within Lords of London:
To Bedevil a Duke
To Madden a Marquess
To Tempt an Earl
I really liked all three of the stories within this boxed set. I had previously read and reviewed To Madden a Marquess as a single book, but I enjoyed it again in its proper order within the series.
Tamara Gill is a very good writer and her plots are primarily romance centered. These books are not about intrigue or danger. Instead they are about falling in love, even if it’s unexpectedly with the wrong person. I enjoyed the playful banter, the charming characters and especially the continued presence of the six main characters in each others lives as each book unfolded. Ms. Gill did a very good job of maintaining the sound of the historical era. Even though the stories were improbable, they were still enjoyable.
Content alert: Each book varies in the degree of explicit sexual content and spoken vulgarities. I can only recommend this set for mature readers who are not easily offended.
To Madden A Marquess
After reading the latest release by Mrs Gill, I remembered I had this one in my kindle so I decided to give it a try.
Cecilia is such a strong character I even wondered if she could have existed, past societies were not fair to women, and worst when they were courageous, smart and feisty.
She lets nothing crush her, she goes where she wants and her father might have designs for her future, if they are not she wishes too, she won’t comply.
Hunter has lost himself among the London ton distractions, so much, he can’t function without being imbibed, so when Cecilia rubs his face in it, he argues with her, unable to see the true in her words even if they hurt.
She soon becomes a challenge for him, so when she defies him to stay clean to be able to kiss, he never expected it will be so much an issue, a task which bring pain to get to it.
And while he is on his way to rehabilitation, Cecilia must face her life going the wrong way and having to make harsh decisions.
It was a fast paced and very entertaining read, Even if I liked to see Hunter apologizes, I would have loved some more groveling.
A 5 stars read which deals with substance abuse problems.
To Tempt An Earl
Like the previous story, it was intriguing to follow a woman working in trade mixing with the Haute Monde.
Katherine Martin is no shy nor weak woman, she is well aware she is far from a beauty, not having a full figure like it is “à la mode”, plus working for her father tarnishes her image.
But for once, she wanted to have what her friends and most of the women had, someone desiring her. Why she proposed a night of pleasure to the down his luck Earl Leighton.
Hamish Doverty is drowned by an unfortunate combinations bad luck. Katherine saved his hide once so when he encounters her again he is intrigued by this independent woman, she is at the opposite of what he is usually attracted to a woman but something in her has caught his interest. So when she propositioned him, he rejected it, he does not dally with innocent women.
But as time goes by, they meet again and again until Hamish becomes obsessed with her.
Kat is a sweet woman, she longs for a shared life with a caring husband, but for what ever reasons (physical attributes or lineage), she never caught a man’s eyes. Why she sought to win some knowledge by having a night with the tempting Lord Leighton.
Hamish has closed his heart after losing his dear sister to childbirth. So he refused to ever marry and produce children. And Katherine’s intrusion in his life unsettled him as he wants to enjoy his time with her but he fears the outcome.
Sure, I would have loved more groveling on Hamish’s side but love is what it is, and forgiveness is entirely part of it.
I loved these books. Can not wait to read more.
I loved this series of books. The plots and characters kept me up all night reading. I love happily ever after stories! The plot twists kept me enthralled.
I am reading it