AMAZON UK Kindle Storyteller Awards 2018 “Romance Reads You Can’t Miss” Listed in the top 20 from over 6000 entrants.Dinah Osborne needs a husband and she needs one now. Not just any man will do. To meet the terms of her rather eccentric grandfather’s will, she must be safely engaged to marry a man of worth before her twenty-first birthday or she’ll not receive a penny of her rather large … rather large inheritance. Sadly her social climbing grandfather’s notions of worth and her own are not in the least alike, and nothing but a Lord will satisfy the terms of his will. But Dinah is alone in the world and has no entry into the select ranks of the ton.
She does, however, know a thing or two about blackmail.
Lord Benjamin Lancaster is a determined rake, a hardened gambler, and the kind of man who fills Dinah with disgust. However a title is a title, and she’s quite content to use him for her own ends.
Yet her fake fiancé is not quite as easy to handle as Dinah had hoped, and he’s determined to have more for his trouble than the financial reward promised him. Dinah is not immune to his deep blue eyes or his dark charm, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s the last man in London that she would ever give her heart to …
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This story is hilarious and brought a smile and laughter as Dinah tries to manage Lord Benjamin Lancaster. I don’t think the author meant it to be a romantic comedy, but these two reprobates are perfect together as they face the ridiculous to get Dinah’s inheritance from the nasty weaselly lawyer. Let’s face it, a regular woman of the ton would never had snared Ben’s heart. The man is reprehensible, and needs someone who has the backbone to stand against his rakish ways.
This edition was kind of a shocker since the young Dinah took charge of the scene with strength and courage where you wouldn’t have found in most other females back in that time persay. With the help of her father’s dear friend Joe raised her from a young child to become a beautiful young lady and help her learn the things to keep her safe but upon hard times comes hard measures.
Dinah’s very wealthy grandfather leaves in his will she must be engaged before her 21st birthday in order to receive her inheritance which leaves a big problem considering her situation and lack of money.
The two are faced with a plan to secure her inheritance, which involves a card game and a nonsuspecting young Lord Lancaster who lives his life quite careless.
The plan however needs to last only a few weeks and both Dinah and Ben agree that’s all it will be and then will call off the engagement.
Yet one never really knows how the cards may fall for certain.
A fake engagement
Dinah can’t inherit her grandfather’s fortune until she’s engaged to a titled gentleman by her twenty-first birthday. Because of the scheming lawyer who withheld this vital piece of information, it doesn’t leave her much time. Ben turns out to be the perfect victim, until an emotional connection grows between them. Is his goal still to have her as his mistress or is it now as his wife? Ben has such a hard time growing up with his ups and downs. He really has a good heart. Being the third son is tough. Very entertaining to read how he changes.
Educational in that used actual places and informative with history
I really do enjoy books written by Emma Leech! As in each of the stories I’ve read by her so far, I enjoyed the story line, the dialogue and the characters in this book. It was another one of her books that I didn’t want to put down because I wanted to see what happened but, by the same token, I didn’t want the book to end.
Very enjoyable, characters were believable and likable.
Emma NEVER disappoints!
Dinah is a strong heroine and she remains so through out the story, I love the balance between worlds that she achieves – I love how Ben more or less accepts his comeuppance as well and the supporting characters are fab. This is a perfect addition to the Rogues & Gents series
I liked both the hero and heroine, they were honest and realistic about what they wanted. It was witty and believable, a page turner. I would highly recommend this book
Fun read! I couldn’t stop until I got to the end.
Good story, but the sex was tooooo much.
Never in His Wildest Dreams
Lord Lancaster, third son of the Marquess of Henshaw, is definitely a dispensable spare. Which is probably why he lives only for his own pleasure. He is justly known as a rake and wastrel. A true gentleman he is not.
If not for Joe raising her and protecting her, Dinah Osburne would have been lost to the streets of London when she was orphaned. She has learned well the many talents Joe taught her, but still she has lived a hand-to-mouth existence. She has been tutored in the was of a lady, but a true lady she is not.
When Ben Lancaster and Dinah Osburne cross paths, fireworks, angst and passion will be on display for all to see.
I’m a big fan of Emma V. Leech. I love both her stories and her writing style. Her works are easy to read and she brings the Regency period to life. She is also a master at morphing her characters personalities from the not so likable to the lovable. Which is why I am not surprised that I enjoyed The Last Man in London so much.
All in all this was an entertaining and engrossing read with a happy ending that included an epilogue.
Content alert: God’s name is used 37 times; there is some light swearing (d*mn/h*ll); there are two lightly described intimate scenes; and there is some passionate kissing.
Notice: I also posted my review on Amazon (as Rural Reader) and with GoodReads.
I have really enjoyed all the the books in the Rogues & Gentlemen Series! Emma V. Leech writes with an emotional & loving touch that it draws the reader right in to the thick of things. Dinah Osborne’s eccentric & very rich grandfather has never claimed Dinah but now he has died & will leave all of his wealth to her with one stipulation. She is 6 weeks away from her 21st birthday & she must be engaged to a Lord by then or she will receive no money at all. Lord Benjamin Lancaster has been chosen by Dinah & her adopted father, Joe to help with a fake engagement. Ben leads a wastrel life gambling, womanizing & drinking & they form an agreement which will have Ben & Dinah out among the Ton ( she has never been out in society) so they can appear to be a new couple falling in love & then announce their engagement – Dinah will release him from the engagement & pay him money for the acting job. Both agree on a business agreement & nothing else – Ben will never marry & Dinah knows not to fall for his charming womanizing ways. Hmmmmm……….things go quite the opposite with lots of happenings on the journey to their HEA. I highly recommend this book (which can be read as a stand alone) & the other in this series to all historical romance readers.
This book was just so-so in my opinion. It just seemed to go on & on & on for no good reason. I found myself just wanting it to end. It had a happily ever after but it was painful getting there.
How does one convince the Last Lord of London to become engaged-yet alone marry—in 6 weeks?
An enjoyable story of Ben, a spoiled third son of a Lord and Dinah, the penniless granddaughter of a wealthy man who find themselves under obligation to become engaged—she, to inherit from her grandfather, and he, to honor his gambling debt to her. Ben is the last of his profligate friends—all the rest have become ‘leg-shackled’. None of that for him!
There is the evil lawyer who wants Dinah and her wealth all to himself, who must be convinced of the sincerity of the betrothal. And there is Ben’s family which must, somehow, accept Dinah into the fold, despite her rough background. The stage is set for an enjoyable story that develops a romantic overtone and ends with a HEA. Readers who love clean Regency Romances will enjoy this delightful, and rather light-hearted, book.
I enjoyed most of this novel. I did not enjoy the last part of the book. For most of it the heroine and hero were compelling and well written. I thought one of the villains was punished too much, the other not enough.
This wasn’t your usual romance in a goodway. I really liked the characters.
Kept me entertained from the first page.
Great book!
couldn’t finish it.
Could have been better. Everything resolved without issues