Nearly twenty, Anna Beasley despairs of ever finding a husband. Eligible bachelors seem to avoid the stuttering, blushing debutante in favor of her bolder, more adventurous friends. Much to the delight of her father, who’s determined to marry her off to his godson, Lord Carmichael, despite Anna’s refusal. Her lifelong nemesis, Carmichael has kissed half the young women in London.Surely … Carmichael’s friend, Lord Sorenson, newly arrived in Town, is cut from the same cloth. Anna decides to stay away from him…despite his wicked smile that makes her quiver.
Gilbert Bowen, Earl of Sorenson, had planned to live out his days as a country vicar. But when his old friend Carmichael sends a desperate plea for help, he can’t say no. There’s a murderer among the ton—and every death leads back to Carmichael. Catching a killer during the social season is difficult enough…and then Anna catches his eye. The shy beauty is a distraction he can ill afford but scarcely resist.
When the pair are caught in a compromising position, Sorenson needs little convincing to claim her, especially if it keeps Anna out of harm’s way. But with as many twists and turns as there are suspects, this case may find no one safe—especially when the killer is closer to home than they ever dreamed.
Distinguished Rogues Series
Book 1: Chills (Jack and Constance)
Book 2: Broken (Giles and Lillian)
Book 3: Charity (Oscar and Agatha)
Book 4: An Accidental Affair (Merrick and Arabella)
Book 5: Keepsake (Kit and Miranda)
Book 6: An Improper Proposal (Martin and Iris)
Book 7: Reason to Wed (Richard and Esme)
Book 8: The Trouble with Love (Everett and Whitney)
Book 9: Married by Moonlight (Gilbert and Anna)
Book 10: Lord of Sin (Julian and Portia)
Book 11: The Duke’s Heart (Sinclair and Kitty)
Book 12: Romancing the Earl (Price and Lenore)
Book 13: One Enchanted Christmas (Otis and Meg)
Book 14: Desire by Design (Alexander and Sylvia)
Book 15: His Perfect Bride (Harry and Ophelia)
Book 16: Pleasures of the Night
more
** 3.75 stars rounded up to 4 ***
This was my first book by Heather Boyd, but it definitely won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though there are some pretty big anachronisms in it. The story is well plotted and well written and the characters are very likable. I thoroughly enjoyed Carmichael and would have preferred a happier ending for him.
One of the things that I enjoyed about the book is that there was a murderer to find! So – we have both mystery and romance. The mystery did overshadow the romance a bit, but the romance was definitely there. The villain was well disguised and it took some work to discover who it was.
Gilbert Bowen, Earl of Sorenson was a very likable character. He had worked with Bow Street previously in solving some very heinous crimes in his parish while he was a vicar. He was so good that he became known as the Almighty’s Bloodhound. So, here is one of those anachronisms – he was the ONLY son of an Earl and, as such, he would never have become a country vicar. I know he wanted to distance himself from his father’s profligate ways, but – still – a country vicar just wouldn’t have happened. That didn’t keep me from enjoying the story – it just wouldn’t have happened.
Anna Beasley is a classic wallflower. She attends all of the balls, musicales, routes, etc. but she is always on the outside looking in. That suits her father just fine because he wants her to marry his godson, Price Wagstaff, Earl of Carmichael. Anna certainly has no intention of marrying Lord Carmichael – she doesn’t even like him and he has worked all his life to make her dislike him.
The largest and most egregious anachronism happens within the first few pages and really carries throughout the book. We find Meriwether, a Bow Street Runner, beating Lord Carmichael. Carmichael is tied to a chair and Meriwether is interrogating him by smashing his fists into him. Had that actually happened, Meriwether would have been immediately taken to prison and promptly hanged. The aristocracy didn’t even have to speak with the runners, much less be beaten by them.
Anyway, all in all, it was an enjoyable read.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
Married by Moonlight by Heather Boyd
Distinguished Rogues #9
I am not sure that one needs to read the other books in this series to enjoy this one and not having read any of them have to say that everything seemed to make sense. I did wonder about some of the characters and if they had been in previous books but did not need to know what their lives entailed to understand this book.
In this book we have both a serial murderer needing to be caught and a romance all in one. It seems there is someone that has it in for the young ladies that are vibrant and might snare a certain Lord and as soon as they show interest in said young man they end up…dead. Enter Gilbert Bowen, Earl of Sorenson, also known to some as “the Bloodhound”. He steps in to help suss out the serial murderer and once on the scene quickly falls for Anna Beasley – a woman that most seem to avoid for no good reason.
I truly enjoyed Gilbert! He was wise and worldly even though a vicar for a while. His knowledgeable pursuit of Anna was a delight and took me back to a time I was as naïve as Anna and intrigued by kissing 😉
Fun story and worth reading though I think I enjoyed the romance more than the mystery.
Thank you to the author who bestowed me an ARC through NetGalley – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
An absolutly delightful Regency Romance! Loved the characters, the storyline with suspense, mystery and romance brought this story full circle. A page Turner with plenty to offer readers. Well written with well developed and highly lovable characters. Plenty of twists and turns, and a delicious romance. A must read for fans of rich characters, suspenseful storytelling and mysterious elements. Another great read by Heather Boyd!
I received a complimentary copy, however, all opinions are mine alone.
The book opens with Gilbert Bowen, the Earl of Sorenson rushing into Lady Berry’s home to save his friend Price Wagstaff, the Earl of Carmichael from being officially charged with murder for the death of Angela Berry. Gilbert vows to find the killer and clear Carmichael’s name. Gilbert has a reputation of a being a brilliant investigator and before he inherited the earldom and was a simple country vicar, he helped Bow Street solve many crimes. But never has a case been more important to him, Carmichael is one of his oldest and dearest friends and only a very few people know that he was in love with Angela and had planned to announce their betrothal at the ball.
Anna Beasley is a very proper young lady, daughter of Carmichael’s godfather and good friend to Angela Berry, she is dancing with Viscount Wade at Almack’s when Carmichael enters. Carmichael is the bane of her existence, her father would love nothing more than for Carmichael and Anna to make a match, but she would rather die a spinster than marry a rake like Carmichael. He approaches her with a friend in tow – a very handsome friend and he teases her. Introductions are made and his friend, Gilbert, Lord Sorenson is charming and nothing like Carmichael. Anna asks if they have seen Angela and Carmichael seems upset and leaves, Gilbert too makes his excuses, he has promised the next set to Anna’s friend Portia. Anna is surprised that she is jealous and tries to ignore the attraction she feels for Gilbert.
The plot thickens when Gilbert’s investigation undercovers two more murdered women with ties to Carmichael, it seems Carmichael has kissed all the slain women. With no real leads, Gilbert forces Carmichael to remain in society and they keep Angela’s death secret while they investigate. They attend a ball on Friday night and Gilbert sees Anna again – Carmichael teases him about her and says he should pretend to court her, she was good friends with Angela and might have information that would help them. Gilbert refuses, he is attracted to Anna, but he won’t use her for information. He dances with her, but ignores her while they are dancing and then goes to dance with other ladies and chats with them, Anna is hurt and slips away to compose herself. But she finds more than she was bargaining for – Carmichael and Gilbert are in the room as well as the murdered body of Miss Goldwell, another friend of hers. She is understandably upset, but Gilbert asks her to keep quiet about what she has seen.
Over the course of the next few days, Anna wonders about Miss Goldwell’s death and when she runs into Gilbert, she asks about news of Miss Goldwell. Gilbert finally gives into his attraction and kisses her. When they are caught together, he announces that they are betrothed. Anna is shocked, but plays along. They say they haven’t spoken to her father yet and beg Lord Wade and Lady Winmere to not say anything.
Anna tells Gilbert he doesn’t need to marry her, but he finds that he wants her as his wife and asks for time to court her. She has doubts, but agrees.
When yet another murder is committed and this time is found out by the ton – Gilbert worries for Anna’s safety, especially when he learns Carmichael kissed her once – he insists that they marry.
This was a very fast paced murder mystery with a dash of romance. The writing is excellent and the story flows nicely, the mystery is well done and kept me guessing until almost the very end, the romance is sweet and understated, but it is not lost to the mystery.
This is the ninth book in the series, but can easily be read as a standalone title. I would happily recommend this book and look forward to more installments.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
A story full of mystery, suspense and eventually love that kept my attention from the start. The heroine Anna Beasley feels she will never find a husband and if her father his way, she would marry his godson Lord Carmichael. As far as she is concerned, he is a rouge and she has no desire to be attached. When his friend Gilbert Bowen comes to town, she at first stays away but eventually she sees he is not like Carmichael. Gilbert, now a country victor, previously worked with the Bow Street Runners and when his friend asks for his help in finding a murderer, he of course comes to his aid. There have been a string of deaths of young ladies that Carmichael has been connected to at several balls and suspicion comes his way. It was wonderful to see Anna bloom as at first she appeared shy, but was really outspoken and talkative as she became comfortable with those around. As she and Gilbert get to know each other an attraction grows and their relationship comes together. But there is also the suspense of finding a murderer and the outcome is really not what I expected! I truly enjoy when a lot of suspense and mystery are intertwined with a romance. This story was well done and although part of a series, can be read as a standalone. I have not read the other books in this series but hope to do so soon!!
The Almighty’s Bloodhound.
Romance mixed with murder, Bow Street runners and investigative vicar Earl. Unusually for me, I guessed the murderer very early on in the story (there were obviously not enough suspects!) but having said that, I found this an enjoyable and easy read. Recommended.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Anna Beasley despairs of every finding a husband, eligible bachelors seem to avoid the blushing debutante in favour of her bolder, more adventurous friends. This delights her father, who’s determined to marry her off to his godson, Lord Carmichael, despite Anna’s refusal. Surely Carmichael’s friend, Lord Sorenson, newly arrived in Town, is cut from the same cloth. Anna decides to stay away from him despite his wicked smile that makes her quiver.
Gilbert Bowen, Earl of Sorenson, had planned to live out his days as a country vicar. Then his old friend Carmichael sends a desperate plea for help, he can’t say no. There’s a murderer among the ton and every death leads back to Carmichael. Catching a killer during the social season is difficult enough…and then Anna catches his eye. The shy beauty is a distraction he can ill afford but scarcely resist. When the pair are caught in a compromising position, Sorenson needs little convincing to claim her, especially if it keeps Anna out of harm’s way.
This is the ninth book in this very good series, it could be read as a standalone book. The characters are well portrayed & have plenty of depth. I really liked Gilbert & Anna, they were attracted to each other from their first meeting but he was determined to find a serial killer & she thought someone so handsome couldn’t be interested in her. The story flows very well & I I was soon caught up in the mystery, the identity of the killer was well hidden & I only suspected who it was just prior to the killer being exposed. I really loved the book with its combination of romance & mystery.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Absolutely loved this story! Lady Anna is enduring her second year on the marriage mart. She does not have a large number of suitors, but only an old childhood “frenemy” that her father much prefers, and another rather off putting lord. While attending ton events she meets a lord, Gilbert, who is a pal of her childhood nemesis and the two are attracted to each other upon first sight. But Gilbert, a country vicar with a talent for investigation, is in London to help that childhood acquaintance, Lord Carmichael, who is a suspect in the murder of the woman he claims to love.
The H and h, along with a number of colorful characters become embroiled in a series of homicides that somehow revolve around Carmichael. The plot is filled with intrigue, twists, and humor, as well as spice.
It is a page turner from start to finish and I highly recommend it. I now have to go read the other books in this series as well. I DO hope that there are more stories to tell, especially that of the broken-hearted Lord Carmichael.
I read this as an arc on Netgalley which affected my review in no way at all.
Married by Moonlight by Heather Boyd is book Nine in the Distinguished Rogues Series. This is the story of Anna Beasley and Gilbert Bowen, Earl of Sorenson.
I have read the previous book, but feel this can be a standalone book if you choose to do so.
Anna is shy which makes it hard for her when speaking to other which has not helped her single status. Her father wishes her to marry Carmichael but Anna doesn’t want to marry such a man as a rake. When his friend Gilbert comes to town Anna is attracted to him but then if he is a friend of Carmichael he probably has the same issues.
Gilbert is in town to come help his friend Carmichael who is being accused of something horrible. Gilbert is a Bow Street investigator and once a Vicar. Now he is just trying to solved the mystery of murder. But Gilbert is quickly attracted to Anna and when caught together it is no hardship for him to take her.
Really enjoyed reading their story along with the mystery that played in this story too.
Married by Moonlight by Heather Boyd has just the right amount of historical feel without throwing an anchor around the plot. She doesn’t choke readers with more details than necessary, effectively drawning them into a historical backdrop but mantaining readability. After reading Chills, Boyd’s first novel in the Distinguished Rogues series, I became a fan not of historical romance but definitely of Heather Boyd’s and was excited to read this latest installment, book 9.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy. You can find my full review here: https://binblogsbooks.wordpress.com/2018/05/24/married-by-moonlight/