He never imagined he’d be the man he was born to be, or that one woman’s faith in him would change his life forever… Carlton starts to fall for the innocent beauty.Seeking refuge with a notorious crime lord, was never part of Regina’s plan. But in her blind attempt to escape the fate her parents have planned for her, options are limited. What she doesn’t expect, is to pull aside Carlton’s facade, and to find a tormented man who makes her feel safe and cherished – a man she could easily love, if he’ll let her.
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When Carlton Guthrie, Scoundrel of St. Giles, encounters a runaway bride in the London slums, he offers to help her. Not out of kindness, but because she’s the Earl of Hedgewick’s daughter. Using Regina to exact his revenge on her father seems like the perfect plan. Until Carlton starts to fall for the innocent beauty. Seeking refuge with a notorious crime lord, was never part of Regina’s plan. But in her blind attempt to escape the arranged marriage her parents have planned for her to a fourteen year old marquis, options are limited. What she doesn’t expect, is to pull aside Carlton’s facade, and to find a tormented man who makes her feel safe and cherished.
This is the fifth book in the series & whilst it could easily be read on its own, the series is very, very good. I’ve liked Carlton throughout the series & so glad he’s finally had his story & what a story, it left me breathless at times. I loved both Carlton & Regina who were literally thrown together, I also loved how Carlton’s history was gradually revealed. He was shown to be honourable as well as a man not to be messed with. Regina was intelligent & feisty but I found her to be a bit of a snob to begin with but that soon changed as she became more at home with Carlton. A well written well paced book which I found very hard to put down. I look forward to Ida’s story
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
A striking storyline. A thoroughly well developed and enticing novel. Amazingly deep characters. This was a great book with twists and turns. There were unexpected things and expected things that happened in unexpected ways. I really enjoyed this full novel and cannot wait until the next book comes out!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book has the dark and gritty suspense that I love in stories set in and around London’s St. Giles slums. We are also treated to a runaway bride and a vengeance seeking “crimelord” who is much more than he appears to be. I enjoyed this plot that kept the dangers of the situation and the obstacles to a match front and center and didn’t minimize them.
I requested and voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
Wow, this story was fantastic. I liked the premise of this series. Carlton is known as the Scoundrel of St. Giles even though he is much nicer than that, I loved the way he spoke, the passion he had for the downtrodden and the loyalty he had for his friends. But is Carlton all he says he is? Regina’s dilemma was all too real in 1820 and what is a girl to do about it? Take charge of her own destiny, that’s what. The scenes with Carlton and Regina are so sweet and loving. I bet you fall in love with them like I did.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
The Forgotten Duke
Diamonds In The Rough Series #5
Sophie Barnes
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSophieBarnes/
Release date 01/28/2020
Publisher Sophie Barnes
Blurb :
He never imagined he’d be the man he was born to be, or that one woman’s faith in him would change his life forever…
When Carlton Guthrie, Scoundrel of St. Giles, encounters a runaway bride in the London slums, he offers to help her. Not out of kindness, but because she’s the Earl of Hedgewick’s daughter. Using Regina to exact his revenge on her father seems like the perfect plan. Until Carlton starts to fall for the innocent beauty.
Seeking refuge with a notorious crime lord, was never part of Regina’s plan. But in her blind attempt to escape the fate her parents have planned for her, options are limited. What she doesn’t expect, is to pull aside Carlton’s facade, and to find a tormented man who makes her feel safe and cherished – a man she could easily love, if he’ll let her.
My review :
When revenge driven for most of his life, what a man to do when a mean is offered on a plate but it may cost him more than he bargained …
As it is my first read in this series, everyone was new to me, so I was not influenced by their previous appearances.
Regina is a prim and proper miss, always the obedient daughter until she reached her rupture line and ran away to avoid her father scheme and the fate he had selected for her.
While she has growing up and her own personality to draw, she is a sweet miss discovering a side of life and its edges when she has always been kept sheltered and unaware of what lies outside Mayfair.
Yet, she shows a strength I did not expected from her, I imagined she would crumble in tears at every hardship when in fact she comes out even stronger every time. Sure, she is naive and innocent but she does not shy away for adversity and reality of life. She is open and is accepting, ready to forgive when she knows someone’s right has been trampled, she is about justice whomever is the culprit.
Carlton is much more complex, full of layers as his scheme and goal are very slowly revealed as the why. During a time, I was flying blind, as Carlton was called with the most awful adjectives, yet at any moment did he show an once of badness, he is a supporter of the weakest and the abused.
Still, his thirst for revenge while at the beginning looked like it consumed all his thoughts, soon became secondary when he was close to Regina.
She awakens his deepest desires and dreams, makes him wish for more, but he is certain there is no future between them as his plan is in motion.
I loved the author took the time to portray the characters’ changes, the shift in their moods and feelings and with it, their hopes for a different outcome. And along the road, they encounter dents and holes, and from them they rise stronger.
While I am not a great fan of revenge plot, so angsty and hurtful, Mrs Sophie Barnes managed to bring her characters to life with reason and cleverness, painting them with wits and sensibilities.
5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author through Netgalley, and preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/541756303080212/?d=n
The Forgotten Duke by Sophie Barnes is Book 5 in the Diamonds In The Rough Series. This is the story of Regina Berkly and Carlton Guthrie. I have read (and Loved!) the previous books but feel you can easily make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Regina is running away from her father and the man she was to marry. Regina had no real plan once she started running she just wanted to escape. Carlton is the one that happens upon her and offers her help but he isn’t doing it for nothing. Carlton sees revenge for his father by using Regina to get to her father who is the Earl of Sedgewick. But as we know all good revenge plans sometimes get snagged by Love.
Enjoyed their story!!
Wow, I really enjoyed this story of Carlton and Regina by Sophie Barnes. Regina met Carlton Guthrie, the Scoundrel of St. Giles, when she ran away from her family so she would not have to marry who her father wanted her to marry. After she ran away, Regina was attacked, and Carlton saved her. From the beginning Regina was attracted to Carlton even though she could not think why, he was a criminal and she hated his moustache (lol). Carlton had a vendetta against Regina’s father and when he met her, he decided to take advantage of this. This story has so many aspects I really like, and I like that Carlton was not as hard as he seemed. I also liked Marcus, Regina’s brother, who cares more for her and what is right then himself. I hope he has a story soon.
I received a free copy from Netgalley for my honest review.
When Carlton Guthrie, infamous as the Scoundrel of St. Giles, stumbles upon a runaway bride wandering the Dials at dawn, it turns out to be his lucky day. The runaway happens to be Lady Regina Berkly, daughter of the Earl of Sedgewick, the man on whom Carlton seeks to have revenge for his father’s murder. Carlton offers help and shelter to Regina, but not out of the kindness of his heart. Using the daughter to get to the father seems perfect until Carlton begins to fall for her.
Regina’s options are quite limited and her flight so quick that she has no real plan, though she certainly never would’ve thought to seek refuge with a crime lord. But the more she interacts with him, the more she begins to notice that Carlton Guthrie’s persona is very much a facade and that she could love and heal the damaged man beneath it, if only he would let her close enough. Even if he does, their tentative feelings may not survive his revenge plans.
I couldn’t put this one down. Carlton was such a good tortured hero, almost an anti-hero really, with so many layers. Regina was young and sheltered, but she showed a pleasantly surprising maturity and a willingness to alter her opinions. Both Carlton and Regina demonstrated a lot of character growth and there was enough going on in this book to hold my attention while they got to know each other. There’s really no steamy goodness here, which is usually a deal-breaker for me, but there was a great deal of sensuality and I liked the characters so much that this worked for me regardless. I’m glad we got Carlton’s story and I hope this series continues with more.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A fantastic book that you will love…
Wonderful characters… strong… willfull… and plot…
A young lady, a runway bride… a young criminal lord in search of revenge…
Pain… research… hope… love…
A perfect mix that will kept you reading until the end…
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Enjoyed the story. Forced into a marriage to a 14 year old boy, Regina escapes the morning prior to her wedding and finds safety in St. Giles after being saved by Carlton from two street thugs. Carlton has his own agenda while she remains hidden from her family, trying to figure out what to do next. There are other minor stories which include kidnapping, human auctions and long ago murder being solved. The story is well written, entertaining and holds your attention. It is an unexpected love story that is a great read and .i would recommend this book.