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

London - 1815

Gilbert Bowen, Earl of Sorenson, has arrived at the home of Lady Berry and has demanded to see Mr. Albert Meriwether, an investigator. Gilbert’s friend, Price Wagstaff, the Earl of Carmichael, had been engaged to Angela Berry, Lady Berry’s daughter. But that night, Lord Carmichael had found Angela covered in blood and dead. Meriwether is intent on trying to charge Lord Carmichael with her death, but Gilbert tells him he is wrong and sends the man away. Meriwether has beaten Lord Carmichael several so Gilbert sends him to his own home to be cared for. Gilbert is a Bow Street investigator himself and, at one time, had been a vicar.

Anna Beasley has just finished dancing with Lord Wade, a viscount. They are at a costume ball at Almack’s. Her friend, Miss Portia Hayes, is there with her. When Anna is presented to Lord Sorenson, she finds him very handsome, but she does not care for Lord Carmichael. Gilbert and Lord Carmichael are at Almack’s to question those people who had attended the Berry ball and, hopefully, find the killer.

When another young woman is killed a week later, the murderer is dubbed the Friday Night Killer. It so happens that Anna, Gilbert, and Lord Carmichael find the body. Anna and Gilbert have found an attraction to each other and when they are found in a compromising position, Gilbert offers for her hand.

Who is the killer and why was he/she murdering young women?

This book kept me guessing and trying to figure out who the killer was. I liked Anna and Gilbert as a couple but did not care for some of the other characters which made it more difficult to discover the killer. I think readers will enjoy this book.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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 was taken aback by the speed of the romance in MbM. The heroine seemed somewhat desperate (and If she blushed one more time, becomingly or not, I was going to throw this book across the room), and I wasn’t entirely clear what the hero saw in her that made him fall in love. Ah well… Lust is alive and well in romance fiction! The friendship dynamics reminded me that those of marriage age were really just teenagers, with all the sophistication that implies. ...

Married by Moonlight was a very enjoyable read with fantastic characters, an amazing romance, and a mystery that kept me guessing.

Almost twenty, Anna Beasley doesn’t think she’ll ever find a husband and it isn’t helping that her father is trying to push his godson, Lord Carmichael, on her who happens to be a man she abhors. Gilbert Bowen, Earl of Sorenson, believed his days working with the Bow Street Runners to be behind him after inheriting his title, but when Carmichael sends for his help, he can’t say no. With a recent string of murders of young ladies connected to Carmichael at ton balls, Gilbert is in a race to find the real killer before it’s too late.

Anna has been perceived as shy her entire life due to her tendency to blush when in the company of men when actually she is quite outspoken and will voice her opinion when in the company of those she is comfortable with. Throughout the book as Anna becomes more comfortable with herself she becomes more confident in the company of others and I enjoyed watching her come out of her shell. I also liked that Anna wasn’t a pushover when it came to her father’s wishes and was willing to put her foot down when it came to deciding how her life would turn out.

Gilbert was a bit of a puzzle to me at first as I was curious how the first and only son of an earl ended up being a vicar prior to inheriting and I enjoyed finding out his backstory. It was also neat to have a hero who came from a different background compared to most romance heroes these days. Gilbert’s experience working with the Bow Street Runners was also different but fit his character very well. Gilbert is a fantastic investigator and I enjoyed watching him work the case. I admired his willingness to do anything to help Carmichael and I enjoyed their friendship.

Anna and Gilbert find themselves immediately attracted to one another and have a hard time staying away from each other when attending the same functions. Their relationship moves slowly at first but it never felt like it dragged and I enjoyed watching them get to know one another. Anna and Gilbert form a good friendship during their courtship and developed a good understanding of each other. During their relationship, Anna is hesitant with how quickly things are progressing on one front and I liked that Gilbert understood that and never tried to push Anna for more than she was ready to give. When their relationship does progress physically, there are several scenes that are very well done and quite steamy.

The mystery of who is murdering the young women of the ton was really interesting and had some great twists and turns to it. For the most of the book I had one person in mind as the killer and I ended up being totally wrong. It didn’t become clear to me who the real killer was until right before the reveal which was a nice surprise. I enjoy trying to guess the culprits in books like these and it’s great when the book ends up surprising me.

Married by Moonlight was a lot of fun to read and I’m happy I decided to pick this book up despite it being ninth in a series I’ve never read before. This book stands well on its own but I’m hoping to read the rest of the series at some point. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a new historical romance series to check out.

This is a sweet story following Gilbert, the Earl of Sorenson, who is endeavouring to discover who is killing women of the ton. He has returned from his time working as a country vicar but works with his friend Carmichael whose fiancée (which was to be announced) murdered before their announcement. In trying to uncover a murderer, Gilbert meets Anna Beasley, who is considered a wallflower, by many.
This is not only a romance novel, but one filled with action, as the couple endeavour to discover the killer.
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good read. All the ingredients are there: smart, beautiful heroine; brave, handsome, worthy hero, villian, friends, romance. Wold recommend this book.

I have read many of Ms. Boyd’s books and love them all. This story is really more of a suspense novel with romance as a subplot. I loved the interaction of the friends, Gilbert, Carmichael, and Wade, and seeing them hunt for the killer. You have to really pay attention and you might figure out who the killer is but it took a little while for me to figure it out. There are several red herrings. I think that part of the story is really good. The romance is nice like a nice married couple with no complications, no angst, and no real hidden secrets. A really sweet read. I would like to see stories for the other guys in the future.

I really enjoyed Anna and Gilbert's story. I always enjoy stories where there is something else going on besides the romance, and in this case it was catching a killer.

I throughly enjoyed watching Anna and Gilbert together. Even though Gilbert was trying to keep Anna away from the mess of the murders, she ends up stumbling her way onto a murder scene anyway. She then ends up helping Gilbert and Carmichael solving the murder.

I loved the bantering between Anna and Carmichael and I'm hoping that Boyd gives Carmichael his HEA in an upcoming book!

This is not the first book by Heather Boyd that I've read and it won't be the last but unfortunately, it won't be my favorite one, It is a nice story and it could be captivating but somehow it feels as if it's dragging.
The storyline is great and on the whole interesting but I caught myself looking far too often at the page number only to find that there were still quite a number of pages left.
Even though I liked the story and the characters (Anna and Gilbert were really sweet together), the fate of Anna's friends and her courtship with Gilbert couldn't draw me in and I won't read this book again, at least not very soon.