"Lord of the Night" is my favorite of the Rogues to Riches series so far. Simon possesses that little something that makes him a little swoon worthy as a hero. A Bowstreet inspector ,who only sees things as black and white, falling in love with the Robin Hood "thief of Mayfair, makes the story seem predictable yet very lovable. I love the interaction between characters and the underlying storyline too much not to reread for that feel good emotion the HEA delivers on. Dahlia delights as a smart, unconventional, and personable heroine with her heart on her sleeve. The children entertain and add a nice element to the overall story. This book is a great historical romance from a really good series. My voluntary review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

I really enjoyed this story. I thought Dahlia was a fabulous character and she kept me entertained throughout. I have to say she is high on my list of favorite characters this year. I also really loved Simon. What I would do for a man like that in real life! There were a fantastic pair.! There was also a surprise in this story that I did not see coming. You have to read the book to find out what it is. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series!!

With a heart as big as the moon and a purse as small as a grain of sand, Miss Dahlia Grenville is far from your normal proper member of the Ton. Running a home for poor orphan or runaway girls to save them from the streets, she must use less than conventional means to gain the coin necessary to feed, clothe and educate her charges.

Bow Street runner, Simon Spaulding sees the world in black and white, right or wrong, no gray areas, if you break the law, he will ensure you pay. The bastard son of a wealthy noble, he has a chip on his shoulder and needs to prove to himself that he has worth. When he meets the feisty Dahlia, he has no idea who she truly is and instead sees the woman of his dreams, a woman with heart, a caring soul and the backbone to take on causes that others turn a blind eye to.

He doesn’t know that the robbery case he is currently working on, chasing a wily thief from crime to crime will hit closer to home and his heart than he ever could have imagined or that the daring Miss Grenville has more than one secret she isn’t sharing.

How can two people be so attracted when they stand on either side of the law? Guess there is more to life than black and white and Dahlia Grenville is like a kaleidoscope of colors that mesmerizes the staid Simon!

Erica Ridley’s LORD OF NIGHT is one more shiny ribbon on her regency parasol as once again, we get all of the atmosphere of London, the attitudes of the era, but none of the stilted dialogue! Wonderful characters, a little damaged, a little hard-headed, but delightfully entertaining as she weaves another tale to relax into!

I received an ARC edition from Webmotion in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Series: Rogues to Riches - Book 3
Publisher: WebMotion (July 22, 2017)
Publication Date: July 22, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance
Print Length: 312 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

Loved the story line, the characters were great together. This one is a bit different than the rest of the books in the series so far and Dahlia's commitment to the students is amazing. Loved the back and forth between Simon and Dahlia.

At first, I wasn't sure how I would feel about this novel. Even though I enjoyed the two previous stories in this series (all of which can be read as stand alone novels - including this one). Delilah was never one of my favorite characters.

However, once I got to "walk in her shoes" as it were, the way she acted (and reacted) to certain things made much more sense. And I found myself enjoying her more and more - not only as the fearless, would risk it all, independent woman that she was, but also as the woman who fell hopelessly in love with a man who was, by all accounts, completely wrong for her. After all, how could a Bow Street runner, the bastard son of a titled man turn a blind eye to the fact that she was a thief, and above him in status?

I thought knowing she was a thief would be a hard pill to swallow as a reader, even if she did have the best of intentions behind it. But once you saw the good she was doing, and how desperate she was to keep these girls in her "school" and off the streets, I found myself more easily (and readily) able to forgive her. After all, most of "the ton" cared little for anyone other than themselves, even when they had the money and position in society to make a difference.

The one thing I feel I have to point out is that you do need to suspend what you know about the regency era a bit in order to fully enjoy this novel. There is absolutely no way that Delilah could still move within "good society" being an unwed woman (of marriageable age), who spent all of her time with girls that were by large considered "undesirable". If you are able to do this, then you will certainly enjoy this well written and witty novel.

Overall, I do think this novel will still appeal to those who enjoy a "friends to lovers" historical romance. I would read more from this author!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

This is the third book in the Rogues to Riches series and it is another enjoyable read. Dahlia Grenville has opened and runs a school for wayward girls who have no where else to go. Dahlia teaches real-life skills, but financing for the school is a month to month problem. To help supplement the income, she has resorted to thieving from her peers. Enter Simon Spaulding, a high ranking Inspector, who believes the world is black and white and has vowed to catch the "Thief of Mayfair."

I loved the slow build-up of attraction between Simon and Dahlia. He's married to his job and she feels the same way about her school. Neither have time for romance, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Ms. Ridley has written another winner, although some of the rules for women in the Regency period, are overlooked. As long as you're not a stickler for what a young woman from a aristocratic family could actually do, the story will win you over. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series to find out what exactly happened between Faith Digby and Lord Hawkridge in "Lord of Temptation."

Miss Dahlia Grenvile was running a school for less fortunate girls in St Giles. Unfortunately the resources to keep the school running were not high. The donations were not enough to keep food on the girls' table, as well as to buy clothes for them.
With that, Dahlia had a different way of keeping things going: she was a kind of Robin Hood.

Everything could have continued to work well, had she not met Bow Street Runner, Simon Spaulding.
Simon was the typical good guy. He worked hard at his job, and was known as Lone Wolf.
On a night when there was an attack on St Giles, Simon ended up helping Dahlia and the girl she would protect. Simon arrested the ruffian, and was deeply impressed by that lady who laid a broom as if it were a deadly weapon.

However, they came from different worlds even though both had life purpose to help people.
Simon acted by the law; Dahlia would do anything to protect the girls.

He was not a nobleman, he did not have vast wealth.
Dahlia was not dazzlingly beautiful and her dowry was not loud enough for her to attract a husband rich enough to help her maintain school.

Interest between both grows, but being on opposite sides of the law, how could this relationship have a future?
The interesting thing about this story is that they are absolutely ordinary people. No nobiliary title or very large inheritance.
Simon was a worker and Dahlia had a normal beauty.
But both were fearless in their tasks.
Despite this change in plot, I did not feel connected to the characters.

3 stars

Lord of Night is the third book in the Rogues to Riches series by Erica Ridley. Although part of a series it can be read as a stand alone, but you will be missing out on a lot of reading pleasure if you don't at least go back and read the books you have missed because they are all wonderful.

Miss Dahlia Grenville has a wealthy family, but what little money she has to call her own she spends on running a home for wayward girls. Girls that would otherwise be living on the streets, forced into prostitution, or being abused at home. Sadly the money that Dahlia has barely covers the costs of the upkeep of the home and feeding and clothing the girls and she has to resort to theft in order to keep the creditors from her door. She only steels from the rich, pawns the small items, then sends an anonymous note to the owner to let them know where they can buy their stolen goods back from. Half the time the owners don't even know that an item is missing, that is how little they need it.

Simon Spalding is the illegitimate son of nobility, one that resents the fact that his half brother has all the affection of their father. Simon doesn't want riches, he always just wanted to be acknowledged. He has carried on with his life and is now a respected Inspector for the Bow Street Runners. He spends more time than needed on his investigations and patrols, but the job is his life. His latest case, one that will earn him a promotion if he solves it, is to discover who the person is who is robbing from the rich, pawning the item and then allowing the victim to recover their item by telling them where it is. Which of course unknown to him is Dahlia.

He first meets her when she is calling for help when a young girl is being dragged into an alley by a man intent on assaulting her. He is on patrol and happily is in the right place at the right time to help them. From the moment they meet there is an instant rapport and attraction. Simon doesn't need the distraction from a woman, but he can't help but be intrigued by her and how wonderful she is to be doing what she is for the destitute girls. He doesn't know about her family, or their wealth, he just knows the school teacher/carer. The more he spends time with her the more he wants to spend time with her and visa versa.

Will there be any chance of a future for them? Dahlia knows she is playing with fire, spending time with the man who wants to catch the Mayfair Thief (her) but she can't push him away. Simon should be devoting his time to his job, not getting involved with Dahlia and the girls, but he can't seem to keep away. What will happen if/when he discovers the truth about Dahlia, not just about her family, but about her Robin Hood escapades??

I absolutely loved this book, and was hooked from the very first page. Dahlia's love for the girls she looks after was so beautiful, it was awful to see how she suffered every time the creditors came to call. It also made me wonder just how the author would deal with Simon finding out about her being a thief. He is a proud, honourable man who makes sure justice is done, there is only black and white. You are a criminal or you aren't one. If he arrests Dahlia it will be the end of her home for girls and they will all end up on the streets and in bad situations again. Of course it means Dahlia will end up in prison and eventually at the gallows too. If he doesn't arrest her then he is going against his very oath to uphold justice. If he lets her go their relationship is over anyway because he'll never be able to cope with not doing his job. It's that whole scenario that had me reading as quickly as I could to get to the end to find out. I won't tell you how it ended, suffice to say, this reader was very impressed with the author's decision. Very well done Miss Ridley, very well done.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers' copy of this book.

arguably a four... but..... I am going five!
A buy buy buy book and a fantastic addition to the series. Now, while not completely correct in historical times, I found this book to be one with some unique layers. I really enjoyed the story. I would of liked a little more interaction between the brothers, but I think that will be coming soon!
This was a unique read for me in some ways. I was prepared to not really enjoy it but found to my surprise it had a wonderful plot that just totally pulled me in! I stayed with the story and found myself enjoying it beyond all my expectations. I will say it had a small lag here and there but overall , a super great read for this series. I expect even better from this very talented author on the next one! I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna

From the moment Dahlia swings her broom to fight off Molly’s attacker until the acrobatic performance at the end, this story has you turning pages to find out what’s next.

Inspector Simon Spaulding believes that laws were not meant to be broken, not even bent. Those who break the laws need to be caught and punished. His current mission is to catch the Thief of Mayfair, a thief with a specific clientele and a strange twist to the crimes.

Dahlia Grenville is the second daughter to a Baron and the headmistress of the St. Giles School for girls. She desperately wants to keep the school open to give the girls skills for a chance at a better life. She has on occasion resorted to drastic measures to secure funds for the school.

Simon and Dahlia meet the night that she rescues Molly. Simon comes upon the scene just in time to help both young women escape their attacker. He begins to spend time at the school. He comes to care for the girls and to love their headmistress. Simon’s time with Dahlia and the girls causes him to take a good look at the life he has led. He discovers that he doesn’t want to be alone any more. He finds friends among his colleagues, makes an effort to get to know his half-brother (Lord Hawkridge), and asks Dahlia to marry him. Dahlia loves Simon, too, but has secrets that she believes will destroy their love, and perhaps her life. What will happen if Simon learns her secrets?

This is a great story. You will laugh, need a tissue, and roll your eyes. It flows along smoothly until one hold-your-breath moment near the end, and then…I can’t tell, it would spoil it. The characters are likeable from the beginning, and we get to see them grow all through the story. Simon, Dahlia, the girls and those around them get lessons in how to trust, forgive, and love each other.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the author. The review is my own.

This is fun, entertaining and engaging. Simon is a serious hard working, honest, caring and determined police inspector who needs to catch a certain thief to get a promotion. Dahlia is a sweet, funny, giving and stubborn self appointed owner and headmistress. Supporting indigent girls and giving them a better life is all Dahlia wants, and sometimes she has to resort to thievery. Simon and Dahlia meet when he helps her run off a man intent on kidnapping a girl. They slowly become interested in each other, but Dahlia knows it can't work, because she is the thief he needs to catch. It's a captivating storyline with a heartwarming ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my voluntary and honest opinion of it.

Publisher's Description:

Unlike proper debutantes, Miss Dahlia Grenville is secretly Robin Hood in a bonnet. Her home for wayward girls has too many dependents and not enough donations. But just as she’s about to pull off the heist of the Season, she tumbles straight into the arms of the handsome detective who has sworn to deliver Mayfair’s mysterious thief straight to the gallows.

Highly principled Bow Street runner Simon Spaulding’s world is black and white. There’s no mastermind too clever, no criminal alive who can escape the hangman. Until he realizes the delightful young lady he’s been courting is a liar and a thief. Suddenly, his career—and his heart—are in peril. How can he bring her to justice when it means losing her forever?

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this tale of a girl born a lady who sees the injustice of young women who are orphaned or otherwise out on the streets not getting an education and so she intends to help them. Starting a school for young girls in this position is the way she intends to help. However where is she to acquire the funds to keep her school from no longer existing? So she becomes a female Robin Hood of sorts.
Simon is the investigator set to find the person responsible for recent thefts. He is drawn to Dahlia and becomes a helpmate of sorts in teaching the girls she has taken in.
Will his investigation lead him to catch and prosecute the person responsible or will it be the ruin of his heart?
I gave this book 4.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3 of 5 flames.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

What an enjoyable book. I received this book as ARC, although it is book 3 of the Rogues to Riches series, it can be read as a stand alone book. This was my favourite so far. I found the characters well written. Both strong in their beliefs and commitment to their choosen life paths but in the end willing to compromise for the sake of others. The story has humour, warmth and suspense. I also enjoyed the fact that the next book in the series has been set up and am looking forward to reading The Lord of Temptation. An easy read but one you will find hard to put down.

I'm giving the book 4 stars, because it was well written and entertaining, but if you are a stickler for "by the book" true Regency protocol, this book is not for you.

This is the story of Dahlia Grenville (sister of Camilla from Lord of Pleasure) and Simon Spaudling.

Dahlia has runs a boarding school for girls in St. Giles, she has a huge heart and can't bring herself to turn away any girl in need. Problem is, she has used all her own funds and she can't afford to keep the school running without more donations, which are basically non-existent since Lord Wainwright inadvertently scorned her school. Unwilling to close the school, Dahlia does what she thinks she must to keep the school going. She becomes a thief, does she know that it is wrong? Yes! But to her mind, closing the school and returning the girls to the streets is far worse.

Simon is an inspector for Bow Street, he is dedicated to his job and is a stickler for the law - there is no gray in Simon's world. He is the bastard son of a marquess and has strong feelings about the "upper class". He is still angry and bitter about the relationship that he had (or more aptly, didn't have) with his father and is incredibly jealous of his half-brother, Lord Hawkridge. He has put all his passion for injustice into his career and has been very successful. So successful that the Justice of the Peace has been tasked him with finding the "Thief of Mayfair" and Simon will stop at nothing to find this criminal and bring them to justice.

He meets Dahlia by chance, he was on his way home when he came upon two women running from an attacker, he chases the thug and takes him into custody. He returns to St. Giles to let Dahlia know that the attacker was caught and thinks that will be the end of their association. But Simon is intrigued with Dahlia and returns to the school a few days later.

Dahlia is also taken with the handsome young inspector, but she has no room in her life for a romantic relationship nor can she risk what little social standing she still has by engaging in an affair. She vows to keep Simon at arms length. But she can't seem to stop herself from drawing Simon into her life and for his part, Simon can't seem to stay away.

As these two spend more time together and fall in love, it seems like they will have an easy path to a HEA. But what fun would that be??

When the truth is revealed about Dahlia's "fund raising" efforts, will his love for her be enough for him to change his black and white view? I honestly wasn't sure and didn't see how this book could possibly have a positive ending! Of course it does, but it is touch and go until the very end :)

The book is well written, flows nicely, has a couple of warm love scenes and very likable characters (I will be honest, I didn't like Dahlia in the previous book and didn't expect to like her in this one, but she won me over). On the downside, their is little to no adherence to Regency proprieties and the idea that a young unmarried woman from a good family could do the things that Dahlia did and not be a complete outcast is unbelievable. However, if you can bear in mind that this is a work of fiction and can overlook this, you will not be disappointed with the story!

Lord of Night is Simon Spaulding, a handsome commoner, a Bow Street Runner, an extremely honest man, almost to a fault, and every inch the gentleman. He is, also, the by-blow of a peer. Our heroine hides her identity from him, but not purposely. It just kind of happened. Dahlia Grenville is headmistress of a school for girls. They meet when he hears her trying to protect a little girl from being assaulted near her school. As a Runner he steps in to chase down the possible assaulter.

Simon finds himself going by to check on the girls and to see Dahlia altering his normal routine or truly his lack of routine. She even pulls him in to assist with dancing lessons. As he does all of this, Simon comes to care for the girls almost as much as he cares for Dahlia.

Simon and Dahlia both have their background issues which have molded them into the adults they are today. Dahlia’s mother does not deal well with her working and running the school. Her mother, the baroness, does everything she can, including using bribery, to try to bring Dahlia back into the family home to look for a titled and wealthy husband. Dahlia’s life and mission is to help others even at the cost to herself.

Simon, as a bastard of Lord Hawkridge, has a younger half-brother, the current Lord Hawkridge. Simon grew up believing his half-brother did not know about him, wanting to have the advantages his brother did, wanting to have his father’s attention as his brother did. This relationship, or lack of relationship is so much a part of Simon and sets up for the next book in the series with Hawkridge as the Hero.

Since we know from the beginning Dahlia is a thief, you know what is going to happen, but not how it is going to happen. Seeing Dahlia refuse to compromise if it will hurt her girls and seeing Simon refuse to compromise his belief in the law sets up a great story line. Both of them learned a lot from each other as their relationship grows. The sensual part was a bit of a surprise, but super enjoyable, even just kind of funny.

Erica Ridley is one of my favorite authors. This Rogues to Riches series is lighthearted reading at its best. Although Lord of Night is third in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Ms. Ridley is great about connecting previous characters in the series so you feel like they are your friends rather than characters in a book. Looking forward to reading Faith and Hawkridge's story!

This honest review is in exchange for an ARC.

Miss Dahlia Grenville daughter of a Baron is the headmistress of a school for poor girls. Simon Spalding, illegitimate son of a Lord is a Bow Street Runner.His latest assignment is to catch the thief of Mayfair to ensure his promotion. To fund her school Dahlia has had to become a thief. I like the character of Simon and would have liked to have read more about his other cases.
An enjoyable read with a little mystery.

4.25 stars
Miss Dahlia Grenville is secretly Robin Hood in a bonnet. Her St Giles school for Girls has twenty four dependents and not enough donations. But just as she's about to pull off the heist of the Season, she tumbles straight into the arms of the handsome detective who has sworn to deliver Mayfair's mysterious thief straight to the gallows. Highly principled Bow Street runner Simon Spaulding's world is black and white.
A delightful read, the characterisation is very good the plot is well paced & it was a pleasure to read. This is the third in the series but could be read as a stand alone book. Dahlia has found her life’s vocation but sadly she’s not got the money available so does all she can to provide for her charges. Simon gradually changes from a strictly black & white man to realising that some areas are definitely grey, his whole world is rocked when he talks to his half brother. Simon & Dahlia are attracted to each other from first meeting & the attraction gradually grows. Another book written with compassion, the girls are charming & all the way through I was routing for them to be able to achieve an honest position. I’m now looking forward to the next in the series

Thank you NetGalley and ericaridley.com for allowing me a review copy of this book. As always, I really enjoyed reading an Erica Ridley story. The book was light reading, with engaging characters and a good fast moving storyline. Would recommend this book to any fan of this genre who is looking for a few hours of escape.

Lord of Night, is quite different from most of the historical romances I've read. I enjoyed it more I think because of this. Simon is a very likable person, which I don't usually associate with a Bow Street Runner. I wonder if he even knows how well liked he is by friends and work associates alike. Dahlia on the other hand has made herself a pariah to most of the people of her same social standing. It's a good thing that Simon doesn't want her for who she knows.

I thought this was a very good book as a big Erica Ridley fan! I wasn't surprised at just how good this book was! Dahlia and Simon we're such unique characters I really identified with both of them and they complemented each other perfectly! I can't wait to read Lord Hawkfields story! I especially like that Simon for once in his life saw the gray! Instead of everything being black and white!