Because of the pain of her hid Lila hid herself away from the world but now she is ready to come out of hiding. She decides to learn to protect herself and those she loves so she wants Hugh to teach her how to defend herself. Hugh is a bare-knuckled fighter and is intrigued by Lila’s request. Sparks begin to fly between them but will their pasts come back to haunt them? Fast-paced historical read with great characters, plenty of drama, steam and emotion. I really liked it.

In the Dark with the Duke by Christi Caldwell
Lost Lords of London #2

After years of being a recluse, the idea of being unable to protect herself and those she loves leads Lady Lila March to seek out Hugh Savage for instruction in self-defense. He is less than excited about the idea, but Lila is tenacious and persists till she succeeds in wearing him down. And thus, begins a dance the two will continue throughout the story. Hugh has battle scars from fighting for his life on the streets, in the children’s bare-knuckle boxing ring and later as a soldier while Lila has scars from a horrible day that changed her life significantly. Whether or not the two can find a way to overcome their issues and forge a future together is what this book is about.

What I liked:
* Hugh – a big man in body and spirit – a gentle giant with a lethal punch…and the perfect man for Lila.
* Lila – a woman who is ready to leave her life as a recluse, become stronger and reach out for what she wants – she is perfect for Hugh
* The plot and writing AND that it had me looking up female pugilists and finding they existed in the timeframe of this story.
* The look into life in the rookery and how grim it must have been.
* The back story of Hugh and his friends
* The mystery of what happened to Valerie
* Finding out who the bad guys were and what skullduggery they had been up to.
* Knowing that there is at least one more book in the series

What I did not like:
* Knowing that the men using children as they did in this book no doubt still use children in similar ways today
* That some of the characters in the book were so amoral
* Finishing the story and wondering what the future held in store for more than one character in the book.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

Lila has been living at her family's estate and not leaving their home after a tragedy saw her injured. But when she thinks her family might be in danger, she ventures out at night to get the help of the Savage Gentleman, London's best street fighter. Lila wants to learn everything she can in case she needs to defend her family. But can she convince the Savage Gentleman to take her on?

Hugh has done what was necessary to survive. While he grew up bare-knuckle brawling, it wasn't something he enjoys. When Lila comes to him for help, he refuses at first, but soon changes his mind. Events soon turn them on another path. Hugh might finally get his revenge on the man that made him start fighting all those years ago. But what will it cost him to do so?

I absolutely adored Lila and Hugh's story!! Having met Lila previously, it was so nice to see her finally come out of her shell and find her HEA. I rally like Hugh. He was a man that did what he needed to do to survive, even when it was not something he enjoyed. I loved watching these two help one another heal from their pasts. This was a great addition to the Lost Lords of London series and I can't wait for the next one!!

An amazing story from Christi Caldwell. This is the second book in this series, but can easily be read as a stand alone.

What happens when when an ex-fighter/soldier falls in love with a young woman who was injured in a massacre caused by the army; the answer is a phenomenal story of love, passion, loss, and overcoming an overwhelming fear.

Christi Caldwell writes stories with plots that are unique and powerful, characters that are deep and realistic, and settings that are descriptive and true to real life. Her stories bring a wide range of emotions that range from happiness and joy, fear and terror, anger and rage, and love to hate.

I have never read a book written by Christi that I would not recommend a hundred times over and In the Dark with the Duke falls into that category. This story is as close to perfect as a story can get and I totally and completely recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher and won a copy via Goodreads and am volunteering an honest review.

I truly enjoyed and devoured this fantastic book, I could not put it down.

This book weaves a complex story of a h/h both lost and tortured by the past. Only through their anxiety, their tortured existence is finding each other and themselves as they fall into their happily ever after.

Their are modern themes that are not always explored in historical context. Both the h/h have ptsd from trauma in their past. His for multi reasons hers from an injuries at an event that could be ripped from a modern newspaper today. Lila goes to meet Hugh in order to have him help her take back her power, she feels powerless in her world. I think these storylines made this book even more accessible and meaningful. I truly loved it!

Lila and Hugh had my favorite kind of chemistry, the banter and will they won’t they kind, and I loved every minute of their interaction. This book. Is smart, sexy and meaningful.

Dark with the Duke by Christi Caldwell is book Two in the Lost Lords of London Series. This is the story of Hugh Savage and Lila March. I have read (and LOVED!) the previous book, but I did feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Hugh has had to fight his whole life from a very early age so it is not surprise that he is called the Savage Gentleman and is East London's undefeated street fighter along with being King of the underworld. Hugh fights a internal battle too that he can't seem to get past. Lila had something awful to happen which sent her into a downward spiral into a recluse. But after years living from the world along with being scare of it she is slowly coming out of that thought process. But Lila thinks learning to defend herself along with the people she loves will help her go forward leaving her sad recluse life. So Lila knows she needs the best fighter to teacher her which leads her to Hugh. Hugh of course doesn't want to teach her this but when he see something in her that makes him move forward to help. They both of course have a pull towards the other but the more they work together the more they learn they have something more going on. Love this author's writing and of course this book! Highly recommend it!

In In the Dark with the Duke we are reacquainted with Lady Lila March. A recluse, she was just barely coming out of her shell by taking music lessons. Fear for her family and motivating by her feelings of inadequacy, Lila hires an undefeated bare-knuckle boxer to teach her self-defense. The fighter, Hugh Savage, is the victim of brutal past. He doesn't want to help Lila, but he is intrigued by her. These two very unlikely damaged people form a strong bond.

I love Caldwell's books. They always show great sensitivity and evoke deep emotions. I liked this book very much. The story was very dark at times. It makes us wonder if sins committed by necessity can still deserve forgiveness. Some elements of the story pushed the limits of my credibility. Nevertheless, I read it eagerly and will certainly look for the next book in this series.

ARC provided through Netgalley.

I'm having to give this one 3.5 stars. I've loved the Lost Lords of London so far as the spin off, but this one lacked in parts for me. I liked Lila, but I don't feel like she was using the correct words when she tried to explain to Hugh about what she wanted from him. It wasn't exactly learning to fight, but defend that she wanted to know. That, for me, was the most miscommunication between the H/h. Watching their slow burn as they got to really know each other was really nice to read and the touches of history added in to explain Lila's past were great, it just took a little while to get her history. Thank you for the advanced copy!

In the dark with the duke 5*
4.5 stars.
Hugh and Lila were two engaging characters. They had both suffered a traumatic experience, although Hugh had experienced many such occasions, and were trying to deal with it in their own way, so that they could move on with their lives. As they got to know each other, so their feelings for each other deepened. However, they both have secrets and when discovered could have an affect on their relationship. This is not a lighthearted romance but it will have you gripped until the end, when several discoveries are made. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The flittermouse is no more. Christi knows how to write angst into her characters. I have read several of Christi’s books and my favorites are about the people of the underworld. These characters have all had tragedy in their lives but work through the problems and even though they are not perfect on the other side, they survive and live happy lives. Hugh is one such character as is Lila even though she is of the ton she lived through the horrific Peterloo Massacre. What I really like about this story is that Lila takes back her life. It is hard but she is a survivor. A great love story between Hugh and Lila.

Stolen lives redeemed!

I am so caught up in the Lost Lord series. I love it. This latest novel is another winner. Here we have Hugh Savage, the Savage Gentleman, a ferocious bare knuckled fighter involved in these vicious matches from childhood, starting on the road to salvation. Not through being a reinstated kidnapped child of the peerage, but through the actions of a woman, Lady Lila March, a recluse of eight years, living in the shadows of night, an agoraphobic, who turns to him to help free herself from her fears. Her's has been a stolen life!
I love this trope, the flawed hero, and the damaged heroine, coming together and in the process, despite setbacks, being the agent of healing for each other. And Caldwell has so upped the dramatic ante! Sigh!
That both harbour secrets their ashamed of, that both have crossed paths (even here I'm unsure if this is at a distance, or is there a hint here of something closer--maybe that becomes the reader's privilege) and both are now at a confluence, an intersection that if they allow, will change their lives.
Hugh has survivor's guilt and punishes himself for circumstances that happened during his childhood that were outside of his ability to control. Nevertheless he's trapped in that guilt. His co-owners of the fight club have their own agenda, one that in the end will destroy Hugh unless he breaks free. First however, he has to want to. Lila becomes the light that will guide him out of that dark place, if he can but follow.
Tracking this group of stolen children stories is becoming a must read for me.
A tartly, bitter sweet read!

A Montlake Romance ARC via NetGalley

A Savage Gentleman.

Hugh Savage is a fighter, who abhors fighting. Its part of his contradictory nature.
He's a runner but has been trapped by circumstance all his life.

Lila March is a recluse, a shut in since Peterloo.
But she reaches out to Hugh to give her lessons in fighting and defense.
They are very much alike, with a shared moment in history but on opposite sides and class.

Here's my thoughts: At first, it was hard to get into the story, mainly because of the surface similarities to another Bare-Knuckle series.
Once Lila and Hugh meet, though, the story really got rolling. At times, the story resonates with events going on right now, with a familiar phrase used as well by Lila, about how she can't breathe, which is very relevant.
At times, there's some choppy bits. Overall, a good read and I liked both Lila and Hugh.

A dark fight society is no place for a lady but what this lady needs is exactly a man who would be part of such a society. Lady Lila has lived a very sheltered life the past 8 years due to a traumatic event that left her scarred, in more ways than one. She seeks out a man that is quite possible more damaged than her, Hugh Savage. Hugh turns out to be much more than she expected and exactly what she needed. As both their lives begin to change can they survive each other's deceit, their pasts, and their trauma? Lila and Hugh were almost electric together, a powerful story where their love helped piece their souls back together.

I had a very hard time getting into this book. I like Lily and her courage but thought her interaction with Hugh lacked chemistry. With Hugh being a fighter I felt like he let the other two owners walk all over him. I didn't finish this one.

Lady Lila March has sought out Hugh Savage, as the man who will make her into a stronger person. Yet Hugh is struggling to break free from his world, where the only way to survive and get ahead, is this violence and fighting. When these two meet, they are definitely an odd couple, yet it soon is evident that they have much in common.
This romance was slow to start with both of the two main characters slowly getting to know each other and revealing their inner selves. With Hugh, he gradually softens from a man knowing only violence to someone who is respectful of Lila. Likewise, she is so timid to start with yet, her time spent with Hugh, slowly shows how strong she really is. The fight scenes are incredibly descriptive but don’t overwhelm the story. The reality for young children growing up in East London during this time period, is quite revealing. Whilst this was the second book in the series, it is definitely a standalone story, with glimpses of the first book cleverly integrated. This is another great addition to this series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

It was a good book. More suspense than I generally go for. The hero and heroine had pasts that drew them together and I loved how the author wove their stories.

I wish the ending wasn't so rushed and we actually saw what happened to the villain.

All in all it was enjoyable

I have to start by telling you Christi Caldwell is one of my favorite authors. Her writing style gets you from the beginning of the story to the end. This story is about Lila who had a tragic experience years ago which has affected her actions and how she chooses to live her life. Hugh is a bare-knuckle fighter who lived on the streets for years, and his tragic past has affected how he lives his life. They meet when Lila wants to know how to fight so she can defend herself or the people she loved. This story had a mystery and a start of friendship which turns to love. I felt very bad for Hugh, he had no family and no real friends. I felt bad for Lila for how she has lived her life. I feel bad they were both very lonely and not really happy. Christi Caldwell wrote the story of them finding each other realistic, she did not rush it or force the story. I only wish she would put an epilogue in this book, I would have liked a summed-up chapter so I could know what happed to Hugh partners and Lila’s sister. I guess I will use my imagination and of course give everyone a happy ever after.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Christi Caldwell once again shows she isn’t afraid to delve into the dark side of her characters with In the Dark with the Duke. Both Hugh and Lila are haunted by trauma from their pasts, and Caldwell conveys this beautifully from the opening sentences.

While I don’t always love tortured heroes, I still felt for Hugh, given how those first pages illustrated his past in such poignant detail and shaped him into the man he is today.

As for Lila, I can relate on to being so impacted by tragedy that she would choose to become a recluse and admire her for choosing to take things into her own hands and approach Hugh to teach her how to fight. They see similarities in each other’s struggles and help each other heal in the most beautiful way.

This is one of the most engaging Christi Caldwell books I’ve read (although I still remain lamentably behind on her backlist!) and a new favorite for sure. If you’re a fan of tortured heroes (and heroines) and impeccable character work exploring both trauma and healing, I can’t recommend this one highly enough.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy for the purpose of reading and reviewing In the Dark with the Earl by Christi Caldwell prior to publication. A delightful Regence romance. My opinions are my own and no one has influenced them.

In the Dark with the Duke is book 2 in Ms. Caldwell’s Lost Lords of London series. It’s another well-written novel with engaging characters and a unique plot. The writing is emotional and tugged at my heart. This novel had a slow beginning, but once I reached beyond the halfway point, the pacing picked up and engaged me, keeping enmeshed for the rest of the book.

Lady Lila March’s character is feisty and determined to protect herself, so she asks the hero to teach her fighting moves. I understood her desire to learn the skills needed to protect herself and her loved ones. I identified with her insecurities regarding her injuries received years before. My heart ached for all she’d suffered.

Hugh Savage is an intriguing hero. He’s lived in the underbelly of London from his earliest memories until his time in the Army. His memories of the horrifying battles plague him. He hates what he does and craves a way to leave his wretched career as a fighter, but he owes the two men who gave him succor after his time in the military. I experienced his pain and his bewilderment when he learns he’s inherited his title. I also understood his fears regarding allowing Lila into his life.

The romance between Lila and Hugh is sweet and more of a slow burn than blazing passion. Although there is plenty of desire on both sides. The emotions behind their love story is much more about their emotions than the physical attraction, which is something I enjoy in romance.

If you enjoy Regency romance with characters who will touch your heart and an emotionally charged plot, then you will love In the Dark with the Duke as much as I. This novel is a great addition to Ms. Caldwell’s newest series. Happy reading!

Series: Lost Lords of London #2
Publication Date: 6/9/20
Number of Pages: 365

Lady Lila March and Hugh Savage have more in common than either of them realizes and it was fun to watch them figure that out. The book is well-written and I liked the story, but it did leave me scratching my head about a few things. I liked both Lila and Hugh, but some of the other characters just seemed to be space fillers. I also think this is one of those books that just begged for an epilogue. I would have dearly loved to see how Lila’s family reacted and maybe learn a bit about the wedding, etc. – but definitely, I would like to see things maybe a year out into their future.

For the last nine years, Lady Lila March has lived the life of a recluse. She goes nowhere and she sees no one. A couple of years ago, she realized she needed to get some of her life back, so she sought out someone to help her return to her love of music. That helped, but with all of the news in the scandal rags about children of the ton being kidnapped, she is terrified for her small nephew. Nine years ago, she was helpless and couldn’t protect herself – and now she is determined that won’t happen again. She’s going to learn to fight – to defend herself and those she loves – and she’s going to find the very best person to teach her. He’s undefeated, he’s even killed in the ring – she just has to convince him to show her how it is done.

Hugh Savage was forced to fight from the time he was a young boy. Luckily, he was very good at it and that is the only reason he survived his childhood. Each bare-knuckle match became bloodier and bloodier until it was the expectation that one opponent would die. All of that terror, degradation, blood, and slaughter just for the jeering entertainment of the toffs. When Hugh escaped his prison, he joined the army – only to find himself begging on the streets after returning from the horrors of the Napoleonic wars. He abhors violence and wants no part of it, but when two former fight-mates rescue him from the street, he returns to the fight clubs. Though he rarely has to enter the ring, he still wants out of it altogether.

When Hugh is approached by a slip of a girl who wanted him to teach her to fight, his reaction was to send her away. No way would he teach anyone – especially someone like her – how to fight. Then, he saw the fear and despair in her eyes. Hugh and Lila were attracted to each other from the moment they saw each other. The aristocracy sickens Hugh and he refuses to have any dealings with them – but something about Lila tells him there is more to her than meets the eye.

I loved how Lila just kept mowing down all of Hugh’s defenses and I loved that Hugh was really a gentle giant who hated the life he’d had to live in order to survive.

I was puzzled throughout the entire book though. Hugh was stolen and sold to a crime lord when he was very, very young. He had no memories of his parents at all – yet he spoke perfect aristocratic English. Also, he had all kinds of knowledge about things he just ‘knew’, but didn’t know how he knew it. Thus my conundrum – if he were old enough to have learned about battle strategies and to speak perfect English – why wouldn’t he have some memories of his parents. But, if he were stolen very young (as the story implies), how would he speak perfect English and where would his knowledge have come from? Also, he was basically locked in a cage until he was at least 15 years old. Then he went into the army – so where did he learn how to plan and run a business?

The puzzles didn’t keep me from enjoying the story, but they did keep me scratching my head trying to figure out what happened. I hope you’ll enjoy the story – I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.