actually enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.
Yes, it was predictable but in the very best way. The villain was clear from the outset and, although there was mention of previous heroines, it didn't matter that I hadn't read the previous books in the series.
I did call the majority of the "big reveals" before they happened but it didn't take away my enjoyment and I still couldn't put it down.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hugh Vere, the Marquess of Deveril, wants to buy the Raven Club, but an obstacle has been placed in his path. The owner's sister, Lady Ellie Swift, also wants the club. To make matters worse, Hugh broke Ellie's heart when they were young and she despises him. Now the battle lines have been drawn--each of them want the club for their own reasons and the competition to win is fierce. Despite their tumultuous past, sparks fly between these two, but Ellie is reluctant to open her heart again to the only man she's ever loved.

I enjoyed this story. Ms. Gabrielle weaves a compelling story especially with Ellie wanting to help the less fortunate women who are in difficult situations. Hugh made a mistake in letting Ellie go once and he wants to correct that mistake and keep her safe and by his side forever. I liked both Hugh and Ellie. The pace of the story is good with a couple of twists before this couple gets their happily ever after.

For a prize fighter and military man, Hugh Vere, the Marquess of Deveril, seemed weak in his decision making regarding Lady Ellie Swift. After having her heart broken years ago by Hugh, she became a stronger woman herself. I only wish she hadn't succumbed to Hugh so easily when he re-entered her life. He deserved to grovel quite a bit more than he did.

Belle of the Beau Monde, Lady Ellie Swift quietly aspires to take over the running of her brother's well-known gambling den, the Raven Club, as the earl steps back to be with his wife and soon-to-be arriving child. Everything is going smoothly until the lost love who broke her heart then left for the army five years ago arrives on scene with the intention of buying the Raven.

Rakish second son Hugh Vere never wanted or expected to become the Marquess of Deveril, but has left the army to assume his responsibilities. He's a topnotch boxer with a mind for business and a determination to have what he wants. Sparks fly between Hugh and Ellie immediately, even before her brother declares his intentions with regards to the club's future: Hugh and Ellie will compete for it and whoever proves to be the best manager after a month will win the club.

Ellie is furious at this betrayal by her own brother. She must retain her position at the club in order to continue helping battered women with no one else to turn to. She's certainly not risking her heart ever again either. Unfortunately, she can't control her body's reaction to Hugh, as much as she'd like to, especially when he makes known his intentions of keeping close to his competition.

Hugh craves order and control after his time as an officer and wants the club as something he can have for himself, apart from the marquesate. But Ellie has always been special and somehow he feels he must protect her, just as he tried to protect her years ago by letting her go, even if it was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. Now there is no one to stand between them and Hugh decides he wants more than just the Raven Club. He wants Ellie.

There may be some spoilers and/or ranting ahead: consider yourself warned.

These second chance stories always make me a bit sad because all I can think of is all the time they lost when they could've been together, but I suppose that's life. However, these two were very young when they first fell in love, so it was likely good that they had some time to grow and mature independently. Hugh's way of ending things in the first place was tactless but to be expected of a young man and he certainly grew up as a military officer while Ellie found her own purpose helping battered women. Unfortunately, they both keep making the same mistakes. They're both trying to stick to their present goals without letting their pasts get in the way, but there's too much history and latent feelings between them for that. These two fight their rekindling feelings very hard, Ellie because she won't have her life dictated for her and Hugh because he seeks to protect Ellie and do what he thinks best for her, even if he fails to consult her first. This consistent high-handedness is what drove me nuts about Hugh, along with the fact that he supposedly never got over Ellie, but had this long string of lovers in his wake. Don't get me wrong, I loved his interactions with Ellie, even when he was screwing things up royally, but this little issue was always in the back of my head nagging me.

Nevertheless and complaints aside, despite all the angst this one had a likable hero and heroine. The plot had some ongoing threat in the form of angry husbands and the heroine's motivations for wanting her independence were sensible rather than shallow. I couldn't put this book down and really enjoyed it overall.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is book 2 in the Raven club series. This is the story of Ellie and Hugh.
Ellie is the sister of the Earl of Castleton who is the owner of the Raven club.
Hugh is the Marquess of Deveril and wants to take over ownership of the Raven club. His competition is Ellie who wants her brother to continue ownship, but letting her run it.
But there is a history between these two. A romance gone bad. Hugh has been gone for several years, fighting in the war. He comes back inheriting a title he never expected to have. But he needs to become his own man in his own way. So he goes after getting the Ravens club.
Ellie, after having her heart broken by Hugh, wants nothing to do with men. She turns her attention to helping those less fortunate than her, especially the abused women. She uses the club as a way to help the women escape. So she tries to convince her brother to let her run the club in his place.
The competition is on and so is the danger Ellie puts herself in while trying to help an abusive Baron's wife.
I loved the first book in the series. Even though this book is a stand alone, reading the first book in the series would add greatly to it.
Can't wait for the next in the series.

I love Ellie. She so courageous and actually does something to help others. Then comes Hugh, and I understand the man he is, and I love him too. You'll adore this story. Great storyline! Great characters.

This is the second novel in the Raven Club series, which follows Ellie Swift, sister of Ian, the owner of the Raven Club and an earl. Ellie had her heart broken and has strived to become an independent woman. She helps women who have been abused, finding them jobs in the club or getting them passage to start someplace new. Ellie did not know she would have competition for the club that her brother plans to sell. Hugh Vere, the Marquess of Deveril, has big plans for the Raven Club, and no one will stand in his way. What he does expect is that he and Ellie will compete for the ownership. Many men at the time, there are issues with women running any sort of business or having intelligence. Ellie and Hugh have a past, one he feels he did in her best interest, even though it hurt him. Neither has forgotten the other, but they are not the same as they were 5 years ago. As they compete, the assist each other, but begin to rebuild their relationship, until Hugh does something that Ellie feels was a betrayal. Both have made mistakes, due to Ellie's stubbornness and Hugh's desire to always protect her. Will past mistakes cause them to not have a future they both want?